Effect of Processing Techniques on the Degradability Characteristics of Acacia Acacia hockii) Leaf

This experiment was conducted at the Federal University Dutsin-ma Livestock Teaching and Research Farm in Dutsin-ma Local Government area of Katsina State, Nigeria. The study was meant to ascertain the effect of processing techniques on crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradation characteristics of three differently processed Acacia hockii leaf meal (ensiled (T1), sun dried (T2) and fresh (T30) incubated in the rumen of five rams at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48hrs. Acacia hockii leaves were collected from Dutsin-ma town and used in the experiment as as fresh leaves, sun-dried and ensiled. Five rams with average live weight of 20kg were fistulated and used as replicates in a completely randomized design (CRD). They were fed with groundnut haulms, maize offal and cowpea husk in ad libitum at a ratio of 70%:30% respectively along with other management practices. The results of the rumen degradation characteristics showed that there was a significant (p