PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS AND RUMEN FLUID PARAMETERS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOAT FED GRADED LEVELS OF PINEAPPLE WASTE (Ananas comosus) WITH YEAST (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) SUPPLEMENTATION.

Abstract

A ninety days feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of Pineapple waste (PW) with Yeast supplementation (YS) on performance, rumen parameters and microbial counts of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Twelve WAD goats were used for the experiment, using Panicum maximum as the basal diet. The experiment had four treatments with three animals per treatment. The total body weight gain of the animals were significantly (P˂0.05) higher than the control. Average daily feed intake was significantly different (P˂0.05) and the highest value was recorded in goats fed 30% inclusion in the diet (3.90kg). The feed conversion (FCR) ratio was also significantly different (P˂0.05)and the lowest FCR was recorded in diet containing 30% inclusion level of Pineapple waste with Yeast supplementation. Rumen parameters such as pH, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid were also significantly (P˂0.05) different across the treatments. The total bacteria counts, total fungi counts were also significantly (P˂0.05) different across the treatment respectively. The use of Pineapple waste (PW) with yeast supplementation at 30% inclusion level of ruminant feed improved the performance characteristics, rumen fermentation parameters and microbial counts of West African Dwarf Goats.