PERFORMANCE AND MORPHOSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED DIET CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF ALKALINE TREATED MALTED SORGHUM SPROUT

Abstract

A 90 day trial was conducted to determine the growth performance and morphostructural characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed diet containing graded levels of alkaline treated malted sorghum sprout (AMSP). A total of sixteen (16) WAD goats with an average weight of 5.8 ± 0.6 were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Four (4) diets were formulated to contain 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of AMSP respectively. Data were collected on growth performance and morphostructural characteristics. Result showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) on all
the growth parameters observed except the weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The weight gain values obtained in this study increased across the dietary treatment as the AMSP inclusion level increased but later decreased at 60% AMSP inclusion level. The highest value of final weight gain (18.6kg), weight gain (2.73kg) and average daily weight gain (32.54 g/d) were obtained in goats fed 40% AMSP. While the lowest final weight (7.14 kg), weight gain (1.55kg) and average daily weight gain (18.41g/d) was obtained in goats fed 60% AMSP. Goats placed on 40% AMSP had the best feed conversion ratio (8.60) and also recorded the highest body weight gain (2.93kg). Thus, it is concluded that 40% AMSP could be used in diets of growing West African Dwarf goats without any adverse effect on their performance and morphostructural characteristics.