Effect of Cassava Root Sieviate with Groundnut Husk Supplementation on Rumen Microbial Load and Nutrient Digestibility of Goats

Abstract

The study assesses the impact of cassava root sievate (CRS) with groundnut husk supplementation on rumen microbial load and nutrient digestibility of goats. Sixteen West African dwarf male goats with a mean weight of 5.00 ± 0.42kg were randomly assigned to four treatment diets with four goats per treatments in a completely randomized design. The four prepared treatment diets were B1 (80% guinea grass that served as the control group), B2 (50% guinea grass, 27% CRS and 3% groundnut husk), B3 (50% guinea grass, 23% CRS and 7% groundnut husk) and B4 (50% guinea grass, 19% CRS and 11% groundnut husk). Concentrate diet of 20% was added to all the treatment diets. The result of the study showed that rumen protozoa (5.99 x 106 cfu/g) was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in B1 ,while rumen temperature (39.010C), bacteria (7.23 x 106 cfu/g) with fungi (6.56 x 106 c fu/g) and total digestible nutrient (78.03% ) were significantly (p< 0.05) higher in B2 than those in B1, B3 and B4. No significant (p> 0.05) difference was observed in rumen pH among the treatment diets. It can be concluded that 50% guinea grass, 27% CRS, 3% groundnut husk and 20% concentrate diet has the potential to enhance rumen microbial load and improved total digestible nutrient in goats.