FEED INTAKE AND GROWTH RATE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED DIFFERENT PROPORTIONS OF RUMEN WASTE, POULTRY WASTE AND CASSAVA PEEL WASTE

Abstract

Purpose: Rumen waste, poultry waste and cassava peel waste are sources of environmental pollution but could serve as feed resources for ruminant animals. This study was undertaken to ascertain the nutritive value of composite diets with varied proportions of these waste in West African dwarf goats.
 Methodology: Four experimental diets were formulated in which diet 1 was a standard (control) diet. Diets 2, 3 and 4 contained the wastes in varied proportions of 5, 15, and 25%. The goats where offered a basal diet of concentrate containing Brewer’s dried grain (BDG), vitamin/mineral salts mixtures and Panicum maximum. A feeding trial was conducted using sixteen (16) West African dwarf (WAD) goats in a completely randomized design (CRD). Feed intake and weight changes were determined. Chemical composition of the experimental diets was analyzed. 
 Findings: Results of chemical composition of the diets showed absence of significant (P > 0.05) variation in nutritional composition except diet 3, which had greater (P < 0.05) value of Crude Protein (21.00 %) and NDF (61.00 %). Also, diets 2 and 3 had the least (P < 0.05) metabolizable energy of 3.91 and 5.65 MJ/Kg DM respectively. Results of feeding trial showed significantly (P < 0.05) low nutrient intakesfor composite diets 2, 3 and 4 compared to the control (diet 1). Growth performance result showed that goats on diet 1 and 4 significantly (P < 0.05) gained weight (1.07kg and 0.97kg respectively), while goats on diet 2 and 3 significantly (P < 0.05) lost weight (-1.63kg and -0.56kg respectively). Feed conversion efficiency followed a similar trend. Results shows that the goats on diet 1(control) and diet 4 (25% RW, 5% PW and 15% CP) were better utilized by the WAD goats during the feeding trial. This difference can be attributed to poor palatability and acceptability of diets 2 and 3 as well as nutrient imbalance as required for proper rumen function. Therefore, an appropriate combination of these non-conventional feed materials or wastes, as indicated by diet 4, can be fed successfully to small ruminant animals.