The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritive value, in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD), and ensiling characteristics of legume foliage–maize straw silages. For silage, the proportion of legume to maize was 20%:80% (maize–lablab (ML), maize–indigenous cowpea (MI), maize–Betswit (MB), and maize–Dr Saunders (MD)). Maize alone (M) was used as a control, making up five treatments. Silages were opened after 45 days, and samples were taken for chemical composition, IVDMD, and fermentation characteristics analysis. Other samples were put through a seven-day aerobic stability test. All data were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance, in a completely randomized design (CRD). For the nutritive value of the silage, the ML had the highest (p < 0.05) crude protein (CP) content, when compared with other silages. Maize–Betswit had the lowest (p < 0.05) neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content, when compared with other silages. The lowest (p < 0.05) ether-extract (EE) and hemicellulose content was recorded for MI silage. The lowest (p < 0.05) pH was recorded for maize silage. All silages had similar (p > 0.05) amounts of lactic acid (LA), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), yeast, and mould counts. The MI had the lowest (p < 0.05) carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, when compared with other silages. The highest (p < 0.05) IVDMD was recorded for ML silage, from 24 h up to 72 h. The addition of legumes in maize straw resulted in improved silage quality and fermentation characteristics.

Green tea leaves contain a wide range of active bio-compounds that are essential for sustainable quail intensification; however, its feed value is not known for the Jumbo quail. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of different levels of green tea leaf powder (GTLP) on physiological and meat quality parameters of the Jumbo quail. One-week-old chicks (n = 350; 56.1 ± 2.12 g live-weight) were evenly distributed to 35 replicate pens and reared on five experimental diets formulated as follows: a standard grower diet with zinc-bacitracin (PosCon), a standard grower diet without zinc-bacitracin (NegCon), and NegCon diet treated with 10 (GT10), 25 (GT25) and 50 g/kg (GT50) of GTLP. Weight gain linearly decreased in week 2 but increased in week 4, whereas feed conversion efficiency linearly declined in weeks 2 and 3 as GTLP levels increased. Overall feed intake, carcass yield, and caecum and colon weights showed a linear increase with GTLP levels. Hematological parameters fell within the normal ranges reported for healthy quail. The GT10 group showed larger liver weights than the PosCon and NegCon groups. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of GTLP enhances overall feed intake and carcass performance but not feed efficiency, hematological and meat quality parameters of Jumbo quail.

Background: Legume residues such as leaves from cowpea and lablab plants can be accumulated in large quantities after fruits harvesting. These legumes can be incorporated in ruminants’ diets due to their high feeding value. They are rich in crude protein, vitamins and minerals when compared to grasses that normally deteriorate during dry seasons. This paper is focusing on determining effect of legume residues and maize straws on in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD) and palatability indices in ruminants. Methods: For palatability experiment, each of five male boer goats was provided with four feeding troughs carrying four different feeds (maize straws and 3 legumes = Lablab purpureus - lablab and 2 Vigna unguiculata - cowpeas - Dr Saunders and Betswit). The legume residues and maize straws were also analyzed for chemical composition and IVDMD. All data was subjected to a one-way analysis of variance. Result: Dr Saunders (230.7 g/kg DM) had the highest (P less than 0.05) crude protein content when compared to all diets. Lablab (126.3 g/kg DM) had the lowest (P less than 0.05) acid detergent lignin. The highest (P less than 0.05) condensed tannins concentrations (50.1 g/kg DM) was recorded for Betswit. The highest (P less than 0.05) in vitro dry matter degradability was recorded for lablab at 24 up to 72 hrs. Lablab had a higher palatability index (P less than 0.05) when compared to other diets. Intake (r2 = 0.955) and palatability index (r2 = 0.971) were positively and significantly (P less than 0.05) predicted from total phenolics on goats. Though lablab had better values in most parameters measured, all legumes can be highly recommended to supplement low-quality roughages such as maize straws and grasses.

The nutritional utility of leguminous products such as corticated marama bean (Tylosema esculentum) meal (CMBM) in quail diets is limited by high fibre levels. This study evaluated the impact of dietary CMBM pre-treated with fibrolytic multi-enzyme (FMENZ) on growth performance, and physiological and meat quality responses in Jumbo Coturnix quail. Two hundred and forty 7-day-old Jumbo quail (29.4 ± 2.72 g initial live weight) were randomly distributed to five experimental diets, with six replicate cages each (eight birds/cage). The diets were a grower diet without CMBM, and the same grower diet plus 100 g/kg CMBM pre-treated with 0, 1, 1.5, and 2% (v/w) FMENZ. Positive quadratic responses (p < 0.05) were recorded for overall feed intake and body weight gain in weeks 2 and 3. The control diet promoted the highest (p < 0.05) gain-to-feed ratio in weeks 2 and 3, and the best weight gains and glucose levels, but reduced lipase levels. Final body weights declined linearly [p = 0.037] with FMENZ levels. Breast pH increased linearly, while haemoglobin and 1 h post-mortem chroma showed positive quadratic effects (p < 0.05) with FMENZ levels. The use of the enzymes did not improve the feed value of CMBM in Jumbo quail diets.

This study investigated the effects of incremental levels of polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment on the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD) of Searsia lancea leaves. Polyethylene glycol was sprayed onto S. lancea leaves at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg of dry matter (DM). Data were analysed using a one-way analysis of variance, while linear and quadratic responses were analysed using polynomial regression analysis. There were negative linear and quadratic effects on the crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), total phenolic (TP), total tannin (TT), and condensed tannin (CT) concentrations in response to the incremental levels of PEG. Treatment with 20 g PEG/kg DM produced the lowest ether extract (EE), NDF, TP, TT, and CT concentrations. Magnesium showed a negative linear response to incremental levels of PEG, and treatment with 10 g PEG/kg DM produced the highest potassium, sodium, and sulphur concentrations. In vitro DM degradability at 36 hours showed a positive linear response to increasing levels of PEG, and 20 g PEG/kg DM resulted in the highest IVDMD. In conclusion, treating S. lancea leaves with incremental levels of PEG reduced the concentrations of CP, EE, NDF, TP, TT, and CT, while enhancing the IVDMD. Our results suggest that treatment with PEG at 20 g/kg may be most suitable for improving the nutritive value of S. lancea. (Submitted 2 March 2025; Accepted 17 September 2025; Published 13 October 2025)