NUTRIENT INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY IN WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED Persea americana LEAVES AS SUPPLEMENT TO Panicum maximum

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to determine the nutrient intake and digestibility of diets consisting of basal Panicum maximum and supplementary Persea americana leaves. Fifteen (15) growing WAD goats (initial BW = 8.0 kg) were assigned to five treatments: A-100% P. maximum (control); B-75% P. maximum+25% P. americana; C-50% P. maximum+50% P. americana; D-25% P. maximum+75% P. americana; E-100% P. americana. Animals on treatment E had the highest DM and CP intake of 187.9 and 23.9 g day respectively as compared with the least values of 125.1 and 20.35 g day1 respectively recorded for treatment A. Nutrients digestibility were significantly higher in treatment E than treatments A, B and D. Nitrogen balance parameters were best in the treatment containing 100% P. americana leaves. The results showed that P. americana leaves are palatable and acceptable to goats and when fed as a supplement to guinea grass led to increased DM intake, digestibility and nitrogen utilization.