Performance of West African Dwarf goats fed dehydrated poultry manure as a dry season supplement.

Abstract

The performance of West African Dwarf goats fed dehydrated poultry manure when grazing maturing pastures was studied during 2 dry season months on the Accra Plains of Ghana. Twenty-eight goats (4 bucks and 24 does) were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups of one buck and 6 does each. Animals had access to pasture and, in addition, each group was randomly assigned to one of 4 supplementary dietary treatments: (1) 100% straw; (2) 60% straw + 40% molasses; (3) 50% straw + 40% molasses + 10% dehydrated poultry manure; (4) 40% straw + 40% molasses + 20% dehydrated poultry manure. Weight gains and efficiency of feed utilisation were significantly affected by diet type (P < 0.01). The goats fed Diets 3 and 4 gained more (P < 0.01) and utilised their diets more efficiently (P < 0.01) than goats fed Diets 1 and 2. Goats fed Diet 2 performed better than those fed Diet 1 in both traits. Dehydrated poultry manure (incorporated with molasses) supplementation improved the overall performance of goats grazing low quality natural pastures.