Performance of Bunaji Bulls Fed Pleurotus tuber regium Biodegraded Rice Offal Incorporated Diets

The nutritive potential of rice offal biodegraded using pleurotus tuber –regium (PTRO) as a feedstuff for growing Bunaji bulls was investigated in this study. The study which lasted for 90 days was carried out using a total of twelve bulls with average weight of 153 kg. The animals were allotted to four (4) treatments groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4) of three (3) bulls each and each animal was a replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. A basal diet of elephant grass was offered ad libitum and concentrates in which the PTRO was included at 0.0%, 5.0%, 10.0% and 15.0% for T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively were offered at 3.0% body weight of the bulls while drinking water was offered ad libitum. The experimental diet was formulated using palm kernel cake, brewers dried grain, Shea nut cake, maize offal, treated rice offal, untreated rice offal, bone ash and table salt. Results obtained at the end of the study for growth performance indices including average daily concentrate intake, average daily forage intake, average daily total feed intake, average daily water intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio for T1, T2, T3 and T4 were: 1.24, 1.05, 1.19 and 1.19 kg; 8.23, 8.53, 9.04 and 8.38 kg; 9.51, 9.59, 9.99 and 9.30 kg; 7.10, 6.16, 6.86 and 6.00 litres; 0.23, 0.2, 0.29 and 0.44 kg, and 43.35, 37.40, 34.27 and 20.73 respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the average daily concentrate intake and average daily water intake while the average daily forage intake, average daily total feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio showed no significant differences (P>0.05). It was concluded, based on the results obtained, that the Pleurotus tuber regium biodegraded rice offal included diets were safe in feeding feedlot Bunaji bulls.

Keywords: Performance; Pleurotus- tuber-regium; biodegraded; rice- by product; feedlot; Bunaji bulls.