The utilization of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) by West African Dwarf(WAD) growing goats

Abstract

Confined growing goats were offered ad libitum sundried water hyacinth, cowpea pod and groundnut stubbles hand mixed in the respective proportions: 30:40:30 (diet 1); 30:30:40 (diet 2) and 40:30:30 (diet 3) to measure intake, feed conversion and rate of gain. Dry Matter Intake, DMI (56.14 ± 6.50g/kg dry matter intake (% of EW) 3.49 ± 0.30, feed conversion (g gain/kg feed) 47.24 ± 5.80 and rate of gain (gd 11.00 ± 2.80 of goats fed diet 3 were higher (P < 0.05) than the corresponding (P > 0.05) mean DM1 (49.88 ± 6.5Ogkg/BW). DM1 (% of BW) 3.11±0.30, feed conversion (g gain/kg feed) 40.55±5.80 and rate of gain (gd 8.37±2.80 of goats fed diets 1 and 2. Evaluation of sundried E. crassipes incorporated with legume residues for ruminant feeds at the maximum beneficial level of inclusion will be necessary.