FEED CONSUMPTION AND WEIGHT GAIN OF GOATS FED DIETS CONTAINING CHITOSAN FEED ADDITIVES FROM PERIWINKLE SHELLS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN FARM PROJECT

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effect of chitosan feed additives derived from periwinkle shells on goat feed composition and weight gain. It examined how feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and proximate nutrient composition were affected when goats’ diets supplemented with chitosan derived from periwinkle shells. A total of four treatment groups were randomly assigned to the goats: antibiotics, chitosan periwinkle 0.5 and 1%, and control. Over the course of three weeks, feed intake, body weights, and overall weight gain were recorded. Numerical trends indicated higher feed intake in the chitosan supplemented groups, especially at 0.5% inclusion, compared to control in later weeks. Despite the fact that no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in feed intake between treatments were observed throughout the weeks. Quantitative values suggested a possible benefit for the antibiotic group. Weight gain similarly did not reveal any significant differences (p>0.05). 1% chitosan periwinkle showed highest feed conversion efficiency indicating improved efficiency over other treatments, however least significant difference (LSD) did not find any statistically significant differences between treatments. In small ruminant production systems, these results demonstrate the potential benefits of using periwinkle shell-derived chitosan as a sustainable feed additive to raise livestock productivity and nutrition.