Feed intake, growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing red sokoto bucks fed diets containing graded levels of dried sweet orange peel meal

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen intake of growing red sokoto bucks fed graded levels of dried sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel meal (DSOPM). Twelve animals aged between 5 – 7 months with average body weight of 9.17 kg were assigned to four dietary treatments T1 (control), T2, T3 and T4 containing 0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% DSOPM, respectively in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three goats per treatment. Each animal was fed at 2.5% body weight and provided drinking water ad libitum for a period of 90 days. The results obtained revealed that DSOPM had significant (p<0.05) effect on total feed intake (TFI), average daily feed intake (ADFI), final body weight (FBW), total body weight (TBW) and average daily weight gain (ADWG). Diet containing 0% inclusion level was significantly (p<0.05) best in total feed intake (37.13 ± 2.10kg), total body weight (4.16 ± 0.44kg), average daily weight gain (0.05 ± 0.008kg) and feed conversion ration (8.93 ± 0.11) compared to other treatment diets. Diet with the highest inclusion level of DSOPM (7.5%) recorded the lowest TBW (1.66 ± 0.50kg), average daily weight gain (0.02 ± 0.009kg), total feed intake (27.52 ± 1.02kg) and average daily feed intake (0.31 ± 0.03kg). Dry matter (DM) digestibility significantly (p<0.05) declined across T1, T2, T3 and T4 (54.24 ± 3.09%, 48.63 ± 4.11%, 44.03 ± 4.01% and 37.78 ± 3.34%), respectively. Crude Protein (CP) digestibility was highest in T3 (64.67 ± 4.11%) and lowest in T4 (48.33 ± 3.98%). Crude Fibre (CF) digestibility was highest in T3 (73.12 ± 12.05%) and lowest in T4 (20.77 ± 11.40%). Digestibility of ether extract (91.75 ± 15.15%) was highest in diet T2 and significantly (p<0.05) different from the other treatment diets. Nitrogen intake was highest in T1 (3.34 ± 0.13%) and lowest in T4 (2.83 ± 0.07%). It was concluded that diet T1 (containing 0% level of DSOPM) supported better growth performance than T2 (2.5%), T3 (5.0%) and T4 (7.5%) signifying that inclusion of DSOPM in goat diet significantly (p<0.05) reduced feed intake and improved nutrient digestibility.

Keywords: Citrus sinensis peels, Growth performance, Nutrient digestibility, Red sokoto goats