Publication Date
1997
Description
The effect of four months storage on chemical composition of hay prepared from cowpea haulm was monitored in a Coastal savanna environment in Cape Coast, Ghana. The average hydrometeorological conditions during the experimental period were 27.1oC of temperature, 30.1mm of rainfall, 80.4% of relative humidity and 0.80 water activity. Parameters measured were dry matter (DM%), crude protein (CP%), metabolisable energy for ruminants [MEr, MJME/KgDM], protein to energy ratio (p/E, g/MJME), pH, and rumen degradable nitrogen (RDN,%). The CP, MEr, P/E, pH and RDN values of 13.04%, 7.17 MJME kg-1DM, 18.18g/MJME, 6.35 and 58.83% of freshly prepared hay changed to 12.05%, 6.50 MJME Kg-1DM, 18.56g/MJME, 6.63 and 56.73% respectively at sixteenth week of storage. The study indicated that cowpea haulm hay can be prepared and stored under warm humid conditions in a Coastal Savanna Ecological Zone of Ghana, which has the highest relative humidity in the country throughout the year, without much change in its nutritive value. The implication of the study for ruminant livestock production is discussed.
Citation
Apori, S O., "Effect of Storage on Quality of Cowpea Haulm Hay Under Warm Humid Conditions" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1997-2023). 6.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session14/6
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effect of Storage on Quality of Cowpea Haulm Hay Under Warm Humid Conditions
The effect of four months storage on chemical composition of hay prepared from cowpea haulm was monitored in a Coastal savanna environment in Cape Coast, Ghana. The average hydrometeorological conditions during the experimental period were 27.1oC of temperature, 30.1mm of rainfall, 80.4% of relative humidity and 0.80 water activity. Parameters measured were dry matter (DM%), crude protein (CP%), metabolisable energy for ruminants [MEr, MJME/KgDM], protein to energy ratio (p/E, g/MJME), pH, and rumen degradable nitrogen (RDN,%). The CP, MEr, P/E, pH and RDN values of 13.04%, 7.17 MJME kg-1DM, 18.18g/MJME, 6.35 and 58.83% of freshly prepared hay changed to 12.05%, 6.50 MJME Kg-1DM, 18.56g/MJME, 6.63 and 56.73% respectively at sixteenth week of storage. The study indicated that cowpea haulm hay can be prepared and stored under warm humid conditions in a Coastal Savanna Ecological Zone of Ghana, which has the highest relative humidity in the country throughout the year, without much change in its nutritive value. The implication of the study for ruminant livestock production is discussed.
