Dietary Effect of Pleurotus pulmonaris Treated Cocoa Bean Shell meal on Fibre Fractions Utilisation by the West African Dwarf Goats

Abstract

A sixty-three (63) day study was conducted to evaluate the dietary effect of Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal diet on fibre fraction utilization of West Africa Dwarf goats aged 9 -12 months with an average live weight of 6.31±0.3kg. Six (6) diets were formulated such that wheat offal was replaced with Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal at ratio 0 (A), 20% (B), 40% (C), 60% (D), 80% (E), 100% (F) in complete diets. The diets were fed to eighteen (18) West African Dwarf goats in three replicates per treatment using Completely Randomized Design experiment. The dry matter ranged 86.83 – 90.70%,diet B had the highest value, crude protein ranged between 19.73 (diet A) and 28.88% (diet F) and increased with increased inclusion of Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal in the diets. The nutrients intake was significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the treatmentsexcept dry matter and cellulose. The crude fibre and fibre fractions were efficiently digested.Nitrogen balance, apparent digestibility and weight gain were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the treatment. The goats fed diet A converted their feed to flesh better than other goats. However, goats fed diet F performed best in terms of dry matter and protein intake, weight gain, nitrogen balance and feed to gain ratio compared to other goats fed diets B, C, D and E that contained Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal. It was concluded that Pleurotus pulmonaris treated cocoa bean shell meal incorporated in goat’s diet could supply energy and protein to sustain the growth without adverse effect.