Effect of Daniellia oliveri leaf meal in total mixed rations on the performance of Savannah Brown goats

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the effect of Daniellia oliveri leaf meal (DOLM) in complete diets on feed intake, digestibility, nitrogen utilization and growth of Savannah Brown goats in a 90-day trial using the completely randomized design. Thirty-six does, with an average initial weight of 10.66 kg, were randomly divided into four groups of similar body weight (BW) and allocated to one of the four complete diets with DOLM inclusion levels at 0%, 20%, 30% and 40% respectively. Intakes of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM), and cost/kg BW gain were higher (p<0.05) in the control diet than in the treatment diets. Intake of crude protein (CP) was higher (p<0.05) for the control diet compared to the 30 and 40% DOLM diets. Feed conversion ratio and faecal nitrogen excretion of animals on 20% DOLM diet were lower (p<0.05) than other diets. Final body weight, total weight gain and average daily weight gain were not (p>0.05) affected by the diets. Digestibility of DM and CP, and nitrogen balance of animals on 0 and 20% DOLM diets were higher than those on 30 and 40% DOLM. Digestibility of OM and crude fibre was lowest (p<0.05) for the control diet relative to other diets. Nitrogen intakes (NI) of 0 and 40% DOLM diets were lower (p<0.05) compared to those of 20 and 30% DOLM diets. Nitrogen absorbed (NA) and nitrogen retention (as % of NA) were marginal (p<0.05) for 30% DOLM diet relative to other diets Nitrogen retention (as % of NI) was highest and lowest (p<0.05) for 20%DOLM diet, and 30 and 40% DOLM diets respectively. The study shows that Daniellia oliveri leaf meal can be used up to 40% inclusion level to replace 100% of maize offal in the diet of Savannah Brown goats without adversely affecting the performance of the animals.