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Insufficient quantity and quality of feed for ruminants during the dry season is a major limiting factor for effective production and management. Smallholder farmers generate large crop residues in the wet season, which are rich in nutrients in which ruminants can feed on in the dry season by proper ensiling. Cassava Leaves (CL) and Maize Stover (MS) residues were thus ensiled to evaluate their nutritional qualities as feed for ruminants. Fresh cassava leaves and maize stover were collected, chopped and wilted. Silages were prepared as: T1 (100%CL), T2 (100%MS), T3 (50%CL+50%MS), T4 (25%CL+ 75%MS) and T5 (75%CL+25%MS). Ensiling lasted for 21 days after which they were opened to determine the quality using physical assessment of colour, smell, texture, pH and temperature. Chemical composition of the silages comprising Crude Protein-CP, Crude Fibre-CF, Ether Extract-EE, ash content, Acid Detergent Fibre-ADF, Neutral Detergent Fibre-NDF and Acid Detergent Lignin-ADL were assessed. Nutritive values of the diets were evaluated using in vitro fermentation technique to determine Total Gas Production (TGP), methane, Metabolizable Energy (ME), Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) and Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD). Coefficient of Preference (COP) was determined using a cafeteria feeding technique. Olive-green colour, alcoholic smell and firm texture were observed in the silages. The pH ranged from 4.13 to 4.73 while higher pH was observed in 100%CL. The temperature was between 31°C and 32ºC. The values obtained for the DM ranged from 64.37 to 67.9%. The CP values varied between 8.64 and 19.68%. The lowest CP of 8.64% was observed in T2 (100%MS) while 19.68% was obtained in T1 (100%CL). The ash content ranged from 8.65 to 13.00% and the CF value varied from 33.70 to 40.39%. It was observed that 100%MS had significantly (P |
