Proximate composition of selected browses and common milk supplements for camel calves in Kenya

Abstract

A study on nutritive values of selected browses fed to camel calves and commonly used local feed supplements to milk feeding was conducted in the southern rangelands of Marsabit County. Selected browses and common supplements were analyzed for their proximate composition. In addition, commonly used supplements were analyzed for their amino acid profiles, Ca, P and tannin levels. The samples were analyzed for their potential to formulate plant-based milk replacer or starter feeds for camel calves. The study used focused group discussions (FGDs) to identify available browses and commonly used supplements. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) comprising of 12 persons per study site: Karare, Kargi, Korr and Ngurunit wards were conducted in the main camel keeping areas among the Rendille camel keeping community. A total of 10 browses, 4 grass species and 6 commonly used supplements were analyzed. This study established that CP, DM, fat, NDF, ADF, and ME composition were highly variable, with significant (P