IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 13, Issue 7 Ser. II (July 2020), PP 53-60 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/2380-1307025360 www.iosrjournals.org 53 | Page Blending crop residues with poultry litterfor ruminantfeed formulationin Sub-Saharan Africa: A case study of North- Eastern Nigeria Jaji, Mohammed 1 ,KefasLuka Baiyi 2 , Ali Musa Marte 3 , Rosine Ishmwe 3 , HarunaGado Yakubu 5 , YarsminYunus Zeebone 6 , Isaac HyeladiMalgwi 1,7* andMohammed Ibrahim Dukku 1 1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069 –Nigeria 2 Department of Agronomic Sciences, InstitutPolytechniqueUnilasalle 60000 Beauvais -France 3 Department of Environmental Sciences, Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen -The Netherlands 4 Department of Animal Production Technology, Ramat Polytechnic, P.M.B 1070, Maiduguri. 5 Department of Nutritional Science and Production Technology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Guba Sándor u. 40. H-7400, P.O. Box 16, Kaposvár-Hungary 6 Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Mycotoxins in the Food Chain Research Group,Kaposvár University, Guba Sándor u. 40. H-7400, P.O. Box 16, Kaposvár-Hungary 7 Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Guba Sándor u. 40. H-7400, P.O. Box 16, Kaposvár-Hungary Corresponding Author: Malgwi IH 1, 6* Abstract The experiment was done in order to assessthepossible use of poultry litter as alternative protein sources whenformulating ruminant dietsusing local crop residue. Ten formulations (F1 – F10) were developed using locally and commonly used feed ingredients such as wheat offal, sorghum husk (energy source), while groundnut haulms and poultry litter (protein source). The formulation was based on 60% and 40% of energy and protein source feed material(s) respectively. Poultry litter was introduced in order to see its possible effect on the digestibility rates of some selected crop residues compared.The proximate composition of the feed ingredients as well as that of the formulations were determined. Dry matter content was within the range of 89.9 – 99.7%, 5.77 – 16.37% CP, 34.00- 80.5% CF, 2.0 – 8.0% Fat, 0.5- 13.0% Ash, and 14.64 – 15.52 GE MJ/Kg.DM. 3g each of the formulations were weighed into nylon bags and incubated for 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours respectively. All the formulations used in this study recorded above 60% dry matter degradability at 24hours period of incubation. This implies that the formulations were highly degradable in the rumen. Significant variation (P<0.05) in rate ofdegradation was observed between the formulations except at 48 hours. The cost of production of each of the formulation was also calculated with F8 having highest cost per 100Kg formulation at N 4059 followed by formulation F10 N 3883.45 while the lowest cost was obtained in formulation F7 (N 2997.50). Keywords: poultry litter, rumen, degradation, diet, digestibility --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 13-06-2020 Date of Acceptance: 28-07-2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Animal production is increasing across the world due to modern knowledge in nutrition, husbandry and genetics. Feeds form a significant component of the performance and maintenance of animal well-being. However, the cost of feed is around 70% of the overall cost of animal production (Makkar 2016). This high cost has pushed small-scale livestock keepers to device ways to minimize cost. One important system practiced in Nigeria, is pasture grazing(Chukwuemeka et al. 2018). Pasture grazing as sole feeding regime, are generally low in quality as they contain mostly grasses with few legumes and almost no additive or other supplements(Olanite et al. 2009). Pasture grazing in semi-arid regions of Nigeria, last only four months (between Jun – Sept), other feeding system are therefore needed to maintain livestock production. Ruminants have an interesting digestion of feedstuff owing to the microbial characteristics of their rumen. Nevertheless, for efficient utilization of commonly available feed materials, it is important to understand and characterized the various feed components. This is important in formulating ration for different stages of livestock production(Cajarville et al. 2006).