NUTRIENT INTAKES AND NITROGEN UTILIZATION BY WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED DIETS CONTAINING DRY LOCUST BEAN PULP

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the nutrient intakes and nitrogen utilization of West African Dwarf goats fed diets containing dry locust bean pulp (DLBP) in a completely randomized design (CRD) for twelve weeks. The research was carried out at the Small Ruminant Unit of the College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria. A total number of twenty (20) WAD goats of less than one (1) year
were randomly allotted on weight equalization into four (4) dietary treatments consisting of five (5) goats per treatments which were: 0, 10, 20 and 30% DLBP inclusion levels. Data obtained at the end of the study were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range test at a 5% probability level. The dietary treatments significantly (p<0.05) influenced all the nutrient intake parameters observed. Goats fed 20% DLBP recorded the highest total dry matter (430.49%), total crude fibre (72.95%), total ether extract (41.58%), total acid detergent fibre (109.28%) and total acid detergent lignin (64.72%) intake compared with other dietary treatments. Total nitrogen intake (6.29%), total nitrogen excreted (2.55%) and nitrogen absorbed (5.00%) were significantly (p<0.05) different with 0% DLBP having significantly higher values while 20% DLBP had the highest nitrogen retained (3.89%). The results of this study indicated that the inclusion of dry locust bean pulp at 20% level enhanced nutrients intakes and nitrogen utilization by West African Dwarf goats.