Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of using Acacia karroo pods and leaves for fattening of goats. The experiment was carried out at a farm in Mashava, an area located in Masvingo Province within latitude 20° 2´ 43˝ S and longitude 30° 40´ 29˝ E in the south-eastern part of Zimbabwe. Mixed dried leaves and pods of Acacia karroo were ground using a 2 mm screen and then included at levels of 0, 20, 60 and 100%, replacing ground maize in the diets. Weaned goats (n=64) were allocated in weight order to groups of four animals and randomly assigned to the four treatments in a randomised block design. Growth rates of goats fed with diet containing 100% A. karroo had higher (15.48 ±0.069 kg) final weight compared to any other diets followed with goats fed diet containing 60% of A. karroo and results showed significant differences (p<0.001) between treatments. Feed intake over all treatments was comparable with around 500 g day-1. Goats fed with control diet recorded highest voluntary feed intake of 504.5 g day-1 and lowest of 499 g/day was recorded from diet containing 60 % A. karroo. Goats which were fed with 60 % and 100% A. karroo had low feed conversion ratio (FCR) although the results show significant differences (p<0.05) among all treatments. Goats fed diets containing 0% A. karroo had the least average weekly weights as compared to all other diets. Average weekly weight gains for goats fed with 60 % A. karroo and 100% A. karroo diets rapidly increased in week 2 with those fed 100% A. karroo diets recorded a highest gain of 915.75 ±59.888 g and results were significantly different (p<0.001) between treatments. Farmers are recommended to use 60-100% A. karroo diets when pen fattening goats.
Highlights
Goat production is one of the major income generations for smallholder farmers in arid and semi-arid areas (Brown et al, 2018) due to low cost of production and short period of reaching maturity
Average weekly weight gains for goats fed with 60 % A. karroo and 100% A. karroo diets rapidly increased in week 2 with those fed 100% A. karroo diets recorded a highest gain of 915.75 ±59.888 g and results were significantly different (p
These results coincide with those of Halimani et al (2005) and Mapiye et al (2010) who reported that A. karroo leaves contain high levels of crude protein (CP) and essential amino acids. This result is similar to findings by Mapiye et al (2009c) who reported that high CP in A. karroo increases growth rate of livestock animals especially ruminants. This coincides with findings by Dube (2000) who reported that an increase of A. karroo leaf meal from 40 % to 60 % in goat diet significantly increased feed intake and body weight gain
Summary
Goat production is one of the major income generations for smallholder farmers in arid and semi-arid areas (Brown et al, 2018) due to low cost of production and short period of reaching maturity. Goats have a paramount role in human livelihoods in Zimbabwe and other southern African countries like South Africa (Ngambi et al, 2013; Brown et al, 2018). Goat production is mainly limited by poor feeds during dry seasons in most dry regions. Feed availability has limited goat production in most communal areas (Alemu et al, 2014; Brown et al, 2016) in dry regions for example Southern Africa. Feed resources available during dry season are deficient in protein, minerals, vitamins and energy which negatively affect growth of goats (Brown et al, 2018). The vegetation in regions of low rainfall is associated with high densities of Acacia species such as Acacia karroo for which the browsing habit of goats is well adapted (Mapiye et al, 2011)
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