CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND ACCEPTABILITY OF CABBAGE LEAVES ENSILED WITH PINEAPPLE PEELS BY WEST AFRICAN DWARF (WAD) GOATS

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition, silage quality and acceptability of cabbage leaves (CL) ensiled with graded levels of Pineapple peels (PP) by West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Four different silage diets were made with graded levels of PP inclusion and designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 where T1= 100% Cabbage leaves (without additives; T2 = 90% Cabbage leaves + 10% Pineapple peels; T3 = 80% Cabbage leaves + 20% Pineapple peels; T4 = 70% Cabbage leaves + 30% Pineapple peels. An acceptability trial was conducted using 10 WAD goats in a cafeteria experiment. Results showed that dry matter (%) of silage diets ranged between 37.30 (T4) and 45.00 (T1). Crude protein (CP) content of diets differed significantly (P<0.05), with values increasing as PP increased in diets. Crude protein (CP) values (%) ranged from between 16.48 (T1) and 20.13 (T4). The colour, odour and texture of silages in T2 - T4 had acceptable physical attributes while pH values ranged from 5.88 (T3 and T4) – 6.01 (T1). The order of preference for diets by WAD goats was T3 >T2 > T4 > T1. The Coefficient of preference (CoP) values obtained for T2 and T3 were above Unity (1) hence conferring acceptable status on them. Diets T1 and T4 were rejected. It is concluded that silages made from CL and PP have potential as feed for ruminants with acceptable physical attributes particularly when PP is included at 10-20%