Relationship Between Diet Digestibility And Morphology Of Digestive System Of Local Zebu Cattle Finished On Agro – Processing By Products

ABSTRACT

The relationship between diets digestibility and morphology of digestive systems, were studied in local Tanzanian Short Horn Zebu (TSHZ) cattle finished on agro industrial by products. Forty five TSHZ were weighed and randomly allocated to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design, and nine grazer animals were used as a control group which made a total of fifty four animals. The feedlot animals were fed on hay as a basal diet and supplemented with concentrate, the control group was fed on natural pasture. Animals under Treatments 1 – 5 were fed adlibitum with five concentrates formulated to contain Molasses + Maize meal (T1), Molasses + Maize bran (T2), Maize meal + Maize bran (T3), Molasses + Rice polishing (T4) and Maize meal + Rice polishing (T5). In addition, cotton seedcake, mineral mix, salt and urea were included in all Treatment diets, to meet the requirements for CP and minerals. Digestibility of the diets was measured using Acid Insoluble Ash as a marker. The Morphology of the rumen, duodenum, small intestine and liver from the animals were evaluated after slaughter using ruler and light microscope. Animals under Treatment 2 exhibited significantly higher apparent digestibility of DM (63.9%) and OM (58.8%) than those fed on T1 (62.2% and 55.3%) and lowest values were observed on control group (35.7% and 32.6%) respectively. Higher digestibility values for NDF and ADF (P