The Influence of Crude Sheabutter Leaf-Extracts on Digestibility and Nitrogen Economy in Goats Fed a Concentrate Diet

Abstract

A 28-day feed intake and digestibility trial was conducted with sixteen adult West African Dwarf goats to evaluate the influence of crude aqueous extracts of sheabutter leaf, added to maize-soy bean meal based concentrate diet (18.53 % CP). Goats were divided into four equal dietary groups balanced for body weight (range = 8.34 – 11.62; average = 9.17) and sex (4 males; 12 females). Each group was assigned to one of four treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of different levels of crude extracts of shed sheabutter leaf added to 50 kg of the concentrate diet. The extracts were obtained by boiling 0, 12.5, 25.0 or 50.0 g) of powdered sheabutter leaf for 15 minutes in 1000 dm³ water. The four dietary treatments were designated as A, B, C and D respectively. Goats fed shed sheabutter leaf extracts- treated diet C or D consumed less (P < 0.05) dry matter than the control group A. Coefficients of digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, or ether extracts were higher (P < 0.05) for goats receiving the control diet A than for the treatment group C or D. Urinary nitrogen excretion was reduced (P < 0.05) in goats on sheabutter leaf extracts treatments, when compared with the control group and resulted in higher (P < 0 .05) nitrogen retention for goats on treatments B. All the goats remained in positive weight balance and showed no sign of malaise throughout the 28-day feeding trial. Results from the study supported the hypothesis that crude sheabutter leaf extracts at moderate dietary levels could positively influence the feeding values of concentrate diets as goats receiving dietary treatment B had improved (P < 0.05) body weight change, feed conversion ratio and nitrogen retention.

Keywords: sheabutter leaf extracts, digestibility nitrogen economy and goat