Potential for Using Multinutrient Block for Supplementing Feeding of Growing Goats During Dry Season in Cameroon

Abstract

The study of the potential for using multinutrient block for supplementing feeding of growing West African dwarf goats during dry season were carried in the Experimental Farm of the University of Dschang. Twenty young West African dwarf goats were divided in two groups of ten animals each 6-7 month old and averagely weighing 9.07±1.17 kg were used. The animals of the supplemented group (group 2) received 100 g of multinutrient block per animal per day whereas those of the control group (group 1) did not receive any supplement. The animals were weight every 14 days for the evaluation of growth. The body condition score (BCS) was take at the beginning and at the end of the study. A sample of 100 g of multinutrient block was taken for the chemical composition analysis. The results showed that the multinutrient block had a high percentage of crude proteins (37.43%DM) and ash (29.03%DM). The organic matter (OM) content, the cells wall constituent (NDF), hemicellulose and cellulose were 70.97; 25.03; 12.40 and 5.70 %DM respectively. At the end of the study, the average BCS (3.9 ± 0.10) and average weight of the supplemented goats (16.90 ± 2.94 kg) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the control group (2.9 ± 0.1; 12.42 ± 2.50 kg). The total weight gain was 3.30 kg and 7.89 kg corresponding to a daily average weight gain of 23.57 g/d and 56.35 g/d respectively for the animals of group 1 and group 2. It can be conclude that the multinutrient block significantly improves the growth of the young West African dwarf goats and can be widely used under climate change.