EFFECT OF DRENCHED APPLE CIDER VINEGAR ON THE PERFORMANCE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS RAISED UNDER INTENSIVE SYSTEM

Abstract

Efficient diet utilization for maximum productivity is one of the major research areas for livestock sustainability. This study was designed to investigate effect of drenched apple cider vinegar on performance of West African Dwarf goats raised under intensive system. A total of twelve goats of both sexes were randomly assigned to three treatments containing four replicates where each animal is an experimental unit. The experiment was designed as G1, G2 and G3 which were drenched with 0, 1 and 2 ml, respectively of apple cider vinegar. The results showed that body weight gain (g) and total
feed intake (kg) were significantly (P<0.05) influenced. Weight gain was highest (1298.75 g) in G2 while least similar values (894.00 and 910.75 g) were obtained in G1 and G3, respectively. The Panicum maximum intake had highest numerical value (11.54 kg) in G2 while the least (9.70 kg) was obtained in G1. The total feed intake was observed to be highest (23.37 kg) in G2, followed by G3 (20.10 kg) while least value (18.70 kg) was obtained in G1. The highest numerical value (22.38) for feed conversion ratio was obtained in G3. However, the least (19.97) FCR was obtained in G2 which gave the best value. Drenching West African Dwarf goats with 1 mL of apple cider vinegar had best performance on weight gain and total feed intake which invariably resulted in best feed conversion ratio of the animals, and hereby recommended as additive in water or direct drench in goats’ production.