Page 115 - Agroforestry system - book inner (final corrected) - 9.-3-21_Neat
P. 115
National level e-symposium on “Agroforestry system for augmenting livestock
productivity and empowering resource poor rural farmers”
Results and Discussions
The physical characteristics of the fodder block is presented in table 1.
Table 1 - Physical characteristics of Gliricidia sepium blocks (Mean ± SE*)
Bulk density (kg/m ) 95.92 ± 1.39
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Relative hardness (mm) 16.4 ± 0.6
Durability (%) 71.30 ± 2.27
Post compression expansion for 15 minutes 4.13 ± 0.22
* Mean of six samples
The physical characteristics of the fodder block indicates that the blocks are highly compact due to its
relative hardness, post compression expansion and durability of fodder block (Munasik et al., 2013). The
storage studies on quality of fodder block are presented in table 2
Table 2 – Storage studies on quality of Gliricidia sepium blocks (Mean ± SE*)
Parameters Initial day At the end of 180 days
Crude protein (%) 24.92 ± 1.05 23.57 ± 1.18
Ether extract (%) 6.23 ± 0.26 6.16 ± 0.22
Crude fibre (%) 15.62 ± 0.72 16.19 ± 0.75
Total ash (%) 9.13 ± 0.48 8.95 ± 0.39
Fungal infestation Absent Absent
Insect invasion Absent Absent
Aflatoxin B (ppm) 2.16 ± 0.01 1.02 ± 0.01
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* Mean of six samples
It indicates that the quality of fodder block was not affected in chemical composition (Andrew speedy,
1995), no insect or pest invasion and also the presence of fungi. The leaves contained the aflatoxin B1 2.16
ppm and it was reduced to 1.02 ppm when converted as fodder block. The palatability trial of fodder block
is presented in table 3.
Table 3 – Palatability trial of Gliricidia sepium blocks (Mean ± SE*)
Parameters Initial day At the end of 180 days
Average body weight (kg) 196.33 ± 13.91 254.67 ± 13.28
Dry mater intake (kg) 0.97 ± 0.04 1.22 ± 0.05
The dry matter intake of Gliricida fodder block is around one kg since its leguminous fodder. The
recommended level of leguminous fodder is one kg on dry matter basis.
96 Institute of Animal Nutrition, Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
