Effects of high levels of water soaked sweet orange peel meal on the Performance response and blood profile ofWest African dwarf goats

Abstract

A total of sixteen West African grower bucks of about 7-10 months were used in a completely randomised design to assess the effect of feeding diets with high levels of water soaked sweet orange peel meal (WSSOPM) on the performance response and blood profile of West African dwarf goats. Collected sweet orange peels were soaked in water and drained after 24 hours. The peels were then sun-dried on concrete floors for 48hour and afterwards crushed into a meal using a feed milling machine. The WSSOPM was used to compound four (4) experimental diets containing 0%, 60%, 80% and 100% WSSOPM, these were designated treatment T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Each treatment had four (4) replicate. The study lasted for 11weeks. Results showed that, the mean daily feed intake, mean daily weight gain and the feed conversion ratio of the goats did not show treatment effect (P>0.05) among the treatments. The cost analysis showed that profitability increased with increasing levels of WSSOPMin the diets. The blood parameters measured did not show treatment effect, except the albumin values in which T2 (3.53g/dL)was higher than T1 (2.80 g/dL), T3 (2.68 g/dL) and T4(2.55 g/dL). The mineral indices measured showed variations (P<0.05) in only potassium values, treatment effect was not apparent on the serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and zinc values. Water soaked sweet orange peel meal can be used to replace maize offal at 60%, 80% and 100 % in the diets of West African dwarf goats without negatively affecting both performance and blood indices.