NUTRIENTS INTAKE AND WEIGHT GAIN OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED MAIZE OFFAL SUBSTITUTED WITH UREA-MOLASSES TREATED CASSAVA PEEL DIETS

Abstract

A study that involved 20 West African Dwarf (WAD) goats aged 11⁄2-2 years with an average live weight of 13.86kg was carried out to evaluate nutrients intake, weight gain, nitrogen retention and feed to gain ratio of WAD goats fed maize offal substituted with urea-molasses treated cassava peels meal. The goats were divided into 5 groups of four goats per group and allotted to individual pens in a completely randomly design. The experimental period lasted for 63days excluding two weeks of adaptation. Five diets were formulated such that maize offal was substituted with ensiled urea- molasses cassava peels at ratio 0% (A), 20% (B), 30% (C), 40% (D), 50% (E) respectively. Diet D had the highest recorded value of 22.10% CP while diet B had highest NDF (32.39%) and energy (16.61KJ/100gDM). Nutrients intake, daily weight gain and feed to gain ratio were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatments except nitrogen retention, hemicelluloses and cellulose. The highest dry matter (549.42g/day) and crude protein (108. 95g/day) intake were observed in goats fed diet B. All the diets were adequately utilized however, goats fed diet B have the best weight gain (61.90g/day) and convert their feed to flesh better than others goats. Hence, the diet was palatable, acceptable and tolerable to the goats without a sign of ill-health. Thus, maize offal replaced with ensiled 20% urea-molasses treated cassava peels meal could be a good source of protein and energy that would enhance nutrient utilization by ruminants (sheep and goats) and reduce cost.