ENHANCING THE UTILIZATION OF LOW QUALITY FEED RESOURCE (MAIZE STOVER) IN GOATS USING VEGETABLE OIL DRENCH

Abstract

The research was carried out to investigate the defaunating potential of vegetable cooking oil and its effect on the digestibility of maize (zea mays) stover by West African dwarf goats. Twenty-four West African dwarf goats with average live weight of 8.4kg0.59kg aged 10-12 months were fed a basal diet of maize stover and cassava peel concentrate supplement at 0, 25 and 50% supplementation with or without a single oil drench at 5ml/kgLW in a Completely Randomised Design. Daily feed intakes and weekly weight changes were monitored for 84 days. Digestibility of nutrient intakes was also monitored. The Dry Matter, Organic Matter, Ash and Neutral Detergent Fibre intakes (g/kgW’”) were significantly different among the diets. Zero (0%) supplementation with oil drench had significantly higher values in all nutrient intakes than 0% supplementation without oil drench. Growth rate was better at 50% supplementation with or without oil drench, Sole forage diet without oil drench had a significantly high weight loss (-20.2g/d). Digestibility values of DM, OM, CP and NDF were generally high but better in diets with oil drench. Vegetable oil drench can enhance feed intake and digestibility in goats on basal diets of maize stover and cassava peel-based concentrate supplement.