EFFECTS OF MALTED SORGHUM SPROUT WITH ENZYME SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS, RUMEN FLUID PARAMETERS AND MICROBIAL COUNTS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS

Abstract

A ninety days feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of malted sorghum sprout with enzyme supplementation on performance, rumen parameters and microbial counts of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Twelve WAD goats were used for the experiment, using Panicum maximum as the basal diet. The experiment had four treatments with three animals per treatment. The total body weight gain of the animals were significantly (P 0.05) higher than the control. Average daily feed intake was not significantly different (P 0.05) but increased as the level of malted sorghum sprout increases. Rumen parameters such as pH, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid were also significantly (P 0.05) different across the treatment. The total bacteria counts, total fungi counts were also significantly (PEI0.05) different as the levels of malted sorghum sprout increases. The inclusion of malted sorghum sprout with enzyme supplementation (Roxazyme G2) improved performance characteristics, rumen parameters and microbial counts at 20% inclusion level of West African Dwarf goats.