ABSTRACT
Forages such as grasses and legumes are the main source of feeds for ruminants to meet their nutritional requirements, either for maintenance or production. However, in the tropics, inadequate nutrition is a great challenge contributing to production losses in ruminants (Ibhaze, 2016) due to the unavailability of forages throughout the year. This unpleasant situation has necessitated the search for alternative feed resources rich in energy and protein that are readily available and relatively cheap. These feed resources are incorporated in livestock diets as long as they do not have detrimental effects on the health status and production potentials of the animals (Ibhaze, 2017)
This study was carried out in the University of Benin to evaluate the effect of cassava peels and leaves as an alternative for maize and soy bean meal on the intake and nutrient digestibility of West African dwarf goats. 7 female weaner goats, 6 – 8 months of age, with initial weight range(4.59 – 7.13kg) of were used. They were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design for evaluation at graded levels of 0%, 25%, 50% and 75%. Animals were replicated per dietary treatment with diet one containing 0% inclusion of cassava peel and leaf meal serving as the control. The experiment lasted for a total of 15 weeks, 3 weeks was used for adaptation while the feeding trial lasted for 12weeks. The digestibility trial was carried out at the last week of the experiment where the total faeces voided by animal, as well as the total urine excreted by the animals and leftover feed were collected and weighed. The chemical composition of the treatment diets and faeces collected were evaluated. Nutrient digestibility (%) was obtained from each replicate and data obtained were analyzed statistically.
Results showed that the dry matter intake of the goats fed treatment 2 (261.28 g/day) was the highest. Although, it was not significantly different (P>0.05) from treatment 1 (226.55 g/day), and 3 (241.72 g/day), it was significantly different (P<0.05) from treatment 4 (170.81 g/day). Crude protein intake was also affected by increasing inclusion of CPM and CLM with treatment 2 (47.88 g/day) having the highest crude protein intake. Although, it was not significantly different (P>0.05) from treatment 3 (39.98 g/day), it was significantly different from treatment 1 (31.79 g/day) and treatment 4 (34.78 g/day). The range of ash intake (19.58 - 27.12 g/day), ether extract intake (32.56 - 47.27 g/day), Nitrogen free extract (48.75 - 126.53 g/day), organic matter intake (149.32 - 238.65 g/day) were all seen to vary with the different levels of inclusion of cassava peels and leaves in the experimental diets. The average daily weight gain of between 2.07-26.41g/day was recorded in this study. The highest body weight gain was recorded in treatment (26.41g/day) which was not significantly different from treatments 1, 3, and 4. The feed conversion ratio of 7.164 - 58.57 was obtained in this study which was not significantly different across the treatments.
Although goat diet can be supplemented at 75% inclusion of cassava peels and leaves as replacement of maize and soybean meal, it is recommended that 25% inclusion of cassava peel and leaf as concentrate supplement be used for optimum performance of goats. This will ensure cost minimization and profit maximization.
