Performance, Digestibility and Nitrogen Balance of West African Dwarf Goats Fed Azadirachta indica, Newbouldia laevis and Spondias mombin Leaves

Abstract

The effect of dietary inclusions of ground tree leaves (Azadirachta indica, Newbouldia laevis and Spondias mombin) on performance, digestibility and nitrogen balance of West African dwarf goats was studied for a ten week period. Twenty four (24) bucks were (10.8±0.6 kg) distributed into four treatments (tree leaves and a control (no leaf)) in a completely randomised design. The leaves were included at 40g/day into the concentrate feed at 2% of body weight on dry matter basis while Panicum maximum was provided as basal diet ad libitum intake. Data obtained on chemical composition, performance, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance were analysed using one way analysis of variance. The crude protein (g/kg) content of P. maximum was significantly (P < 0.05) lowest (78.00) while the highest was in N. laevis (177.00). Saponin (g/kg) contents of the leaves ranged from 10.56 in N. laevis to 80.14 in S. mombin. Daily intake (616.82 g/day) and weight gain (22.00 g/day) of goats increased (P < 0.05) with inclusion of S. mombin but the inclusion of A. indica resulted in loss of weight (12.43 g/day). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and fibre fractions were not affected (P > 0.05) by inclusion of ground leaves. However, crude protein and ash digestibility of the animals fed ground leaves decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with the animals in the control. Inclusion of A. indica and S. mombin into the diets of the animals reduced the nitrogen balance of goats. It can be concluded that feeding goats with ground leaves of S. mombin significantly increased weight gain while inclusion of N. laevis in the diets of goats resulted in better crude protein digestibility, nitrogen balance and retention.

Keywords: saponin, tannin, intake, weight gain, rumen