Utilization of wheat offal-carried pineapple waste in the diet of West African Dwarf goats (WAD)

Abstract

This study investigated the processing of wheat offal-carried pineapple waste meal (WCPW) and its utilization in the diet of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats with a view to ascertaining the inclusion level for optimal performance. The WCPW was obtained by evaluating six different combinations of wheat offal (WO) and pineapple waste (PW). The WO and PW mixing ratio 1:2 (weight/weight) was found to be optimal as feedstuff for WAD goats using keeping quality and nutrient content as criteria. Four dietary treatments (control diet (0%), 20%, 30% and 40% WCPW) were fed to growing WAD goats of both sexes in a completely randomized design. The proximate, mineral and vitamin composition of all treatment diets were determined. Performance variables such as feed intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, nitrogen balance and retention, apparent digestibility coefficient and blood counts of the goats were evaluated. Chemical composition shows that the mineral, vitamin and crude protein (CP) contents of WCPW containing diets were more than sufficient than that required by goats for maintenance. The total feed intake (462.13 g/day), feed efficiency (9.90%), average daily weight gain (45.54%), the apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein, nitrogen balance (2.63 g/day) and retention (53.46%) of goats fed 20% WCPW were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the values obtained for goats fed other experimental diets. This indicates that animals fed 20% WCPW had the best performance characteristics. Although, the analysis of blood cells (red blood cell, white blood and packed cell volume counts) were significantly different (p<0.05) among the goats fed experimental diets, the counts fell within the normal physiological range for goats. The study demonstrated that WCPW can be included in the diet of WAD goats without any adverse effect and dietary inclusion of WCPW up to 20% was optimal for growth performance of WAD goats.

Keywords: Pineapple waste, WAD goats, Wheat offal