Abstract
The study was conducted to evaluate supplementation effect of graded levels of Acacia nilotica pod meal on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and weight gain of Boer and Woyto-Guji (50%) crossbred goats. Twenty four Boer and Woyto-Guji crosses with initial weight of 15.20 ± 0.67 kg were used for the experiment. The experimental diets comprised of T1 = 58% of graded Acacia nilotica pod + 40% of wheat bran; T2= 38% of Acacia nilotica pod + 60% of wheat bran; T3=19% of Acacia nilotica pod + 80% wheat bran; T4= Commercial concentrate. Wheat bran is offered as a source of energy supplements. Six goats were randomly assigned to one of the four diets in Completely Randomized Block Design (RCBD). After 15 days of acclimatization periods, feeding trial had lasted for 90 days and followed by seven days of digestibility trial. The results indicated that goats supplemented with T1 consumed higher (P < 0.001) total DM, CP and ME than T2 and T3. The apparent CP digestibility coefficient showed significant variations (P < 0.001) among experimental diets. Conversely, the nutrient digestibility coefficients indicated that goats supplemented with T1 digested more CP than T2 and T3. Likewise, goats supplemented with T1 had attained higher (P < 0.01) ADG than those supplemented with T2 and T3. Results indicated that strategic supplementation of goats with 58% inclusion level of Acacia nilotica pod in goat diets as a protein supplements is promising to replace commercial concentrate in pastoral communities in to study area.
Highlights
Small ruminant production have been played significant role in economies through the provision of meat, milk, household income, manure and skin in addition to contribute a larger proportion of readily available meat in the diets of pastoralists [1]
Poor nutrition leads to undernourishment, slow growth, low body weight gain, loss of body condition and prolonged time to reach market weight [4], which reduces the benefits made from goat production in the area [2]
The crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy intake (ME) (MJ/kg, dry matter (DM)) intake obtained from the current study showed that the experimental goats supplemented with T1 consumed significantly higher (P < 0.001) CP and ME than those supplemented with T2, T3 and T4
Summary
Small ruminant production have been played significant role in economies through the provision of meat, milk, household income, manure and skin in addition to contribute a larger proportion of readily available meat in the diets of pastoralists [1]. Majority of the small ruminants reared in arid and semi-arid areas of Ethiopia are kept by smallholder farmers. Small ruminants in these areas, in southern Ethiopia where pastoral community dominates, are threatened by environmental factors such as erratic rainfall, intermittent droughts and diseases [1]. Such environmental factors put pressure on livelihood of pastoralists and agropastoralists. Natural pasture is usually poor in nutritional quality and is deficient in protein and energy, below the minimum nutrient requirement in ruminant animals [3]. Goats in South Omo, are phenotypically described and known as Woyto-Guji or Konso
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