SILAGE QUALITY AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES ENSILED WITH CASSAVA PEELS

Abstract

Forage scarcity in the dry season is very challenging for ruminant production in the tropics. The utilization of browse species, particularly as silage can bridge this gap. This study assessed the potentials of Moringa oleifera leaves ensiled with varying levels of cassava peels as dry season feed for West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Different mixtures of Moringa oleifera leaves and cassava peels were ensiled and designated as follows: T1= 100% Moringa, T2= 60% Moringa + 40% Cassava peels, T3= 40% Moringa + 60% Cassava peels, T4= 50% Moringa + 50% Cassava peels, T5= 100% Cassava peels. Chemical composition and silage characteristics were investigated. 25 WAD goats with weights ranging between 4.83-6.90 kg were used in the growth study. Chemical composition of the silage diets showed that it contained 27.79 – 36.26 % dry matter (DM), 7.45 – 22.25 % crude protein (CP), 8.92 – 16.45 % crude fibre (CF), 2.55 – 7.01 % ether extract (EE), 6.10 – 10.08 % ash content, 42.40 - 68.14 % Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE). Appearance, odour and texture of the silage had acceptable physical attributes with pH values ranging from 3.53 – 5.80. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and Feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not significantly (P<0.05) affected by diets while Average daily weight gain (ADWG) was significantly improved in T3 (40% M. oleifera + 60% cassava peels) than in others. It was concluded that Moringa oleifera leaves silage with 40% cassava peels as additive elicited the best performance indices in WAD goats fed diets consisting of mixtures of Moringa oleifera leaves and cassava peels ensiled together in graded levels or alone.