Apparent digestibility and nitrogen utilization by West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed tiger nut meal as replacement for maize offal

Abstract

The replacement value of tiger nut meal (TNM) for maize offal was evaluated in this trial. Four bucks averaging 11.0kg live weights were transferred into separate metabolism crates and fed four dietary treatments designated T1, T2, T3 and T4, which were formulated to contain 0, 30; 10, 20; 20, 10 and 30, 0 percentages of maize offal and TNM respectively in a 4×4 Latin square design. Samples obtained from the test ingredients, diets and faeces were analyzed for proximate compositions and energy, while the urine was examined for urea nitrogen. The result shows that the diets; T1, T2, T3 and T4 contained 14.35, 13.58, 13.31 and 13.33 % CP and 1.74, 1.70, 1.73 and 1.73 MJ/kg of energy respectively. Except ether extract, all the nutrients evaluated for apparent digestibility did not differ (P>0.05) significantly. Increasing levels of TNM recorded higher ether extract digestibility (P<0.05). Ether extract digestibility values ranged from 48.97 to 69.82%. The apparent nitrogen (N) utilization study revealed that all the parameters determined were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments. Dry matter intake (DMI) value observed was within the range of 2.85 and 3.07% of live weights. It could be deduced that tiger nut meal completely replaced maize offal without compromising nutrients digestibility.