ASPECTS OF SMALLHOLDER GOAT FARMING SYSTEMS IN RIVERS STATE (II): CASSAVA, PLANTAIN AND YAM PEELS UTILIZATION

Abstract

The study assessed aspects of smallholder West African Dwarf (WAD) goat farming systems and domestic food crop wastes utilization over a 4-week on-farm study. It was conducted on two farms (Farm 1 intensively managed; Farm 2 semi-intensively managed) to estimate live weight changes (LWC) and manure quality. A total of 8 WAD goats with 4 per farm were fed equi-mixture of cassava, yam and plantain peels offered at about 3% of body weight for the 4 weeks. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content was below 40% for all three feed resources although, plantain peel recorded the best (P<0.05) ash and crude protein (CP) contents but, the least dry matter (DM) content. Goats on the semi-intensively managed farm gave the most stable live LWC. The recorded faecal matter showed a great promise for use as organic manure to support crop production, especially, for those who also grow food crops and vegetables as a sustainable intensification strategy. Cassava and plantain peels are recommended as supplemental feed resources for goats, especially under smallholdings during the dry season given their low NDF and relatively high CP contents.