Zogang et al., 2012. Livest. Res. Rur. Dev., 24 (3): 41

Tithonia diversifolia based multinutrient blocks (MNBs) as supplement to Brachiaria ruziziensis’s straw in Djallonke ewes was conducted at the Teaching and Experimental Farm, University of Dschang in 2011. Three types of MNB namely BMN0 (wheat bran: 100%; leaves of T. diversifolia: 0%), BMN50 (wheat bran: 50%; leaves of T. diversifolia: 50%) and BMN100 (wheat bran: 0% leaves of T. diversifolia: 100%) were used for this study. The physical characteristics (drying, cohesion, hardness and color) of blocks were evaluated during 20 days of drying sheltered from sunlight and in well-ventilated area. A Latin square arrangement (3x3) was used to assess the palatability and intake of multinutrient blocks associated with B. ruziziensis hay for Djallonké ewes. The results of this study showed that the blocks showed good cohesion and good hardness. The colors ranged from light to dark changing according to the level of inclusion of leaves of T.diversifolia. Drying increased with increasing level of inclusion of leaves of T. diversifolia. The ingestion of the MNB was 32.06 ± 12.67, 26.08 ± 6.34 and 27.87 ± 10.15 gMS/J/kgPV0, 75 corresponding to a palatibility of 40,2 32,5 and 35,5%, respectively for BMN0, BMN50 and BMN100. This study found that the inclusion of leaves of Tithoniadiversifolia gives not only good physical characteristics with BMN, but also a palatability that decreases with the inclusion of T. diversifolia’s leaves.