Performance of west african dwarf (wad) goats fed Tephrosia candida and Leucaena leucocephala forages in mixtures with panicum maximum

Abstract

An investigation about the potential of Tephrosia candida forage as feed for ruminants was conducted using eighteen West African (WAD) goats. Tephrosia candida (treatments A, B and C) Leucaena leucocephala (treatments D, E and F) were formulated into treatment diets with Panicum maximum as follows: A, D: 75% + 25% P. maximum; B, E: 50% + 50% P. maximum; C, F: 25% +75% P. maximum. Dry matter intake (DMI) was highest (P < 0.05) for goats on diet A and least for those on diet D but there was no significant (P >0.05) difference for this parameter among diets A, B and F. Apparent DM digestibility DM digestibility (24.77 g/day/kg W0.75) was least (P < 0.05) for goats on diet D while goats on diet F recorded the highest (38.12 g/day/kg W0.75) , but the difference in the DM digestibility values of goats on diets B and F was not significant. Goats fed diet B recorded the highest (P < 0.05) apparent crude protein digestibility value of 12.66 g/day/kgW0.75 and subsequently the highest (P < 0.05) live weight gain (53.57 g/day) with a feed efficiency of 0.19.

Key words: Diets, Feed efficiency, Liveweight gain, ruminants, Voluntary dry matter intake