Goat feeding practices and options for improvement in six villages in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Two village surveys were carried out in six villages in southwestern Nigeria to assess goat feeding under traditional management ranging from free roaming to permanent confinement. Three of the villages are located in the lowland rainforest zone (FZ) and three in transition between FZ and the derived savannah (TZ). Cassava products (tuber and peel) and maize offal (a by-product from local maize processing) were the most frequently used feeds. In FZ, breadfruit ( Artocarpus altilis) was also important. There were more feeds in FZ than in TZ. DM digestibilities of the most frequently used feeds were: cassava: 89 ± 2 (% ± SE); breadfruit: 88 ± 2 and maize offal: 75 ± 1. Of these feeds only maize offal had a high CP content (19%). Under free roaming, considerable amounts of feed were given (29–49 g kg −0.75 day −1); however, CP content was low (7–10%). The animals may have balanced their diet through scavenging and browsing. Larger amounts were offered to permanently confined stock (70 g kg −0.75 day −1), but CP content was low (10%); this may have limited weight gain. Some feeds frequently reported to be fed did not contribute much quantitatively. This shows that care must be taken when quantitatively interpreting the results of a qualitative survey. It is concluded that Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala could replace maize offal and/or increase the total amount of feed offered per animal. Suitability appeared to depend on the labour needed to harvest and feed browse, cost of maize offal and value of the extra production. Within the socio-economic setting at the time of the survey, feeding small amounts of browse to balance protein-deficient diets seemed the most attractive option. Feeding larger amounts of browse or using browse to replace maize offal seems to be feasible only if harvesting and feeding can be combined with other on-farm activities.