Performance ofWest African dwarf goats fed Panicum maximum supplemented with Myrianthus arboreus leaf meal concentrates

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the performance of West African Dwarf goats fed Panicum maximum supplemented with Myrianthus arboreus leaf meal for 49 days. Four diets were formulated such that diet A contained 0.00% Myrianthus arboreus, diet B contained 10.00% Myrianthus arboreus, diet C contained 11.00% Myrianthus arboreus and diet D contained 12.00% Myrianthus arboreus respectively. A total of twelve (12) West African Dwarf goats were randomly allocated to the four diets with three animals per diet, each serving as a replicate. Parameters assessed were the chemical composition of the experimental diets, growth rate and digestibility coefficient of the animals. The results showed that diet D had the highest dry matter (92.55%) and crude protein (20.55%) contents. The average daily weight gain (g/day) of animals was significantly (P<0.05) influenced across the treatments. Animals fed diet D recorded the highest weight gain (19.39g/day) while the least weight gain (7.55g/day) was recorded for animals on diet B. The highest total dry matter intake (340.34g/day) was recorded for animals on diet D while the least (313.18g/day) was observed in animals fed diet C. The best feed conversion ratio (17.55) was recorded in animals fed diet D. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the nutrient digestibility of the experimental animals. The highest dry matter (82.70%), crude protein (86.18%) digestibilities were observed in diet D while the least dry matter digestibility (72.73%) was observed in diet B. However, the least fibre fractions digestibilities were observed in diet D. It can therefore be concluded that supplementation of Myrianthus arboreus leaf meal concentrate at 12% inclusion with Panicum maximum as basal diet for goats can enhance nutrient digestibility and improve growth without any deleterious effects on the animals.