Performance of West African Dwarf goats fed microbial treated Bambara nutshell

Abstract

A study was conducted using twenty-one (21) West African Dwarf (WAD) goats with an average weight of 10.50 ± 0.36 kg to evaluate the nutrient intake, weight gain, and nitrogen balance of WAD goats fed microbial-treated Bambara nutshell diets. The chemical and mineral compositions of the diets were also determined. The goats were allotted to seven dietary treatments, replicated three times in a completely randomized design. The Bambara nutshells were sterilized for 15 minutes, inoculated with 25, 50, and 75 ml of each Pleurotus pulmonaris and Aspergillus niger, incubated for 7 days and air dried. The treated Bambara nutshell was incorporated into the diets at the rate of 0ml (Diet A), 25 ml P. pulmonaris (Diet B), 50 ml P. pulmonaris (Diet C), (Diet D), 75 ml P. pulmonaris (Diet E), 25 ml A. niger (Diet F) 50 ml A. niger and (Diet G) 75 ml A. niger respectively. The experimental period lasted for 56 days excluding 2 weeks of adaptation. Results showed that the proximate compositions were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the treatment except for crude protein (CP). Diet F had the highest dry matter (DM) values (94.77%) and CP (20.33%) while Diet C had the least (92.33%) DM and Diet G (19.16%) had the least CP. Goats fed Diet D had the highest daily weight gain (107.14 g/day), and best feed/gain ratio of 6.20. Conclusively, microbial treatment of Bambara nutshell will help in the conversion of these wastes to better quality ruminant feed for better performance.