Study on mineral, antinutrient and blood parameters of goats fed molasses treated rice husk

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 A study on the nutritional potential of rice husk treated with or without molasses was carried out using 25 West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. Five experimental diets were formulated such that; 0, 1, 2 3 and 4% molasses were incorporated in goat diets and were fermented for 5days before being fed to 25 WAD bucks of 5 replicates per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design experiment for 84 days. Results showed that, dietary treatments had significant (P<0.05) influences in all the parameters observed. Diet 5 had the highest crude protein (11.29%CP) and least crude fibre (26.51% CF). However, the dietary ash varied from 11.29% (Diet 5) to 19.84% (Diet 1). The mineral contents (Ca, P, Mg, K) of the diets progressively increased with increased inclusion of molasses and were adequate to support the growth of goats. The highest values were recorded in Diet 5 except for sodium which declined across the treatment. The anti-nutrients contents observed in this study were least in Diet 5 with exception of phenol which had the highest value (23.66%). Dry matter intake (DMI) varied from 466.86g/day (Diet 5) to 452.47g/day (Diet 1). Meanwhile, CPI increased with increased molasses in the diet. Bucks fed Diet 5 had the best mineral retention values and best daily weight gain (68.00g/day) as (6.86) feed gain ratio was the least. Consequently, treatment of rice husk with molasses at 4% inclusion level could improve the general performance of WAD bucks without any adverse effect on their health status.