Abstract
Twenty Red Sokoto bucks (average liveweight of 21.4±3.2 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of varying levels of palm oil (PO) in concentraterations on nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention. Five iso-nitrogenous concentrate supplements (CP 160 g/kg concentrate) compounded with 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 g palm oil/kg of concentrate, were used to supplement a basal diet of wooly finger grass (Digitaria smutsii, Stent) hay. The five supplements were designated as treatments 0-PO (control), 40-PO, 80-PO, 120-PO and 160- PO. The bucks were each fed 536 g/d of hay, and 343 g/d of concentrate to give a ratio of 60:40 hay to concentrate. Results showed that inclusion of PO in the concentrate rations did not affect (P>0.05) total dry matter intake of the goats but intake values declined slightly with further increase in levels of PO beyond 40 g/kg concentrate. No adverse effects on total tract digestibility of nutrients were observed. Nitrogen retention of the goats was positive and not affected (P>0.05) by dietary levels of PO. It was concluded that inclusion of palm oil in the concentrate supplement beyond 40 g/kg level for the Red Sokoto goats marginally depressed total dry matter intake, but had no adverse effects on the total tract digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen retention.
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