EFFECT OF FEEDING WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS DIETS CONTAINING CORNCOB WITH UREA TREATMENT AT VARYING LEVELS ON NITROGEN UTILIZATION

Abstract

Good nutrition is essential for optimum performance of ruminant animals. Conversely, poor nutrition is one of the main constraints of livestock productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa as feed resources are limited in quantity and quality, hence the need to adopt the usage of agricultural wastes become necessary especially after subjecting them to some treatments. The study investigated the effect of feeding West African Dwarf (WAD) goats diets containing corncob with urea treatment at varying levels on nitrogen utilization. Sixteen (16) weaned and growing WAD bucks were used for the study. The animals (4 bucks/treatment) were randomly allotted to different dietary treatments which were formulated with varying inclusion levels of corncob treated with urea at 1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5% as CUT1.5, CUT2.0 and CUT2.5, respectively, while CUT0 had no corncob with urea treatment. The goats were fed at 5% of their body weight. Data were collected on feed intakes (experimental diets and Guinea grass); urine and faeces excreted. Data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance at 5% probability level. Results obtained indicated that total nitrogen intake (7.89g/day), urinary nitrogen (1.11g/day), total nitrogen excreted (3.34g/day), nitrogen absorbed (NA, 5.75g/day), Nitrogen retention (NR, 4.64g/day), Metabolic NA (3.71g/day/W0.75) and Metabolic NR (3.16g/day/W0.75) were highest (P<0.05) for CUT0 compared to other treatment groups. It could be concluded that feeding of diet without corncob treated with urea (CUT0) to WAD goats had the best nitrogen utilization values compared to other dietary treatments