RECYCLING BROILER LITTER AND CAPRINE RUMEN CONTENT AS LOW COST BY PRODUCT FEEDING STUFFS FOR GOAT PRODUCTION

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potentials of broiler litter (BL) and caprine rumen content (CRC) as low cost by product feeding stuffs for goats. Twenty (20) West African Dwarf goats (WAD) with average weight of 10kg were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments of 0%CRC/30%BL, 10%CRC/20%BL, 20%CRC/10%BL, 30%CRC/0BL% and 0BL%/0%CRC (control) for diets A to E, respectively. Results indicated that dry matter (DM) intake of goats decreased (p>0.05) with increasing level of CRC in the diets. Goats on diet A had the best performance in terms of daily gain (g/day) and feed: gain ratio with goats on diet D having the least (p<0.05) performance.  The DM and CP digestibilities followed the same trend across the dietary treatments with goats fed diet D having significantly (p<0.05) lower digestibility compared to the other treatments.  Blood parameters monitored fell within the range required for goats and varied (p<0.05) across the treatments with exception of total protein and blood glucose. The carcass characteristics of WAD goats as a result of feeding BL with CRC were not influenced (p>0.05) by the dietary treatments, while the meat composition varied (p<0.05) in the CP and fat contents. It is concluded that supplementing BL in CRC diets at 20 and 30%BL, respectively, has the potential of improving feed intake, weight gain, digestibility and carcass quality in WAD goats for profitable performance. &nbsp

RECYCLING BROILER LITTER AND CAPRINE RUMEN CONTENT AS LOW COST BY PRODUCT FEEDING STUFFS FOR GOAT PRODUCTION

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potentials of broiler litter (BL) and caprine rumen content (CRC) as low cost by product feeding stuffs for goats. Twenty (20) West African Dwarf goats (WAD) with average weight of 10kg were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments of 0%CRC/30%BL, 10%CRC/20%BL, 20%CRC/10%BL, 30%CRC/0BL% and 0BL%/0%CRC (control) for diets A to E, respectively. Results indicated that dry matter (DM) intake of goats decreased (p>0.05) with increasing level of CRC in the diets. Goats on diet A had the best performance in terms of daily gain (g/day) and feed: gain ratio with goats on diet D having the least (p<0.05) performance.  The DM and CP digestibilities followed the same trend across the dietary treatments with goats fed diet D having significantly (p<0.05) lower digestibility compared to the other treatments.  Blood parameters monitored fell within the range required for goats and varied (p<0.05) across the treatments with exception of total protein and blood glucose. The carcass characteristics of WAD goats as a result of feeding BL with CRC were not influenced (p>0.05) by the dietary treatments, while the meat composition varied (p<0.05) in the CP and fat contents. It is concluded that supplementing BL in CRC diets at 20 and 30%BL, respectively, has the potential of improving feed intake, weight gain, digestibility and carcass quality in WAD goats for profitable performance.Â

EFFECTS OF FEED RESTRICTION AND REALIMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE AND NITROGEN UTILISATION IN GROWING WEST AFRICAN DWARF RAMS

The effects of feed restriction on the performance of growing West African Dwarf sheep were determined in twenty four (24) growing West African dwarf (WAD) rams with average weight of 8.9 ± 0.59kg. The twenty-four WAD rams were allotted to three treatments of eight rams per treatment and balanced for weight in a Completely Randomized Design. Animals in group C which represents the control were fed with dried Panicum maximum ad libitum and concentrate supplement while group two (R1) and group three (R2) were fed with P. maximum without concentrate supplementation for one and two months, respectively. Thereafter, two months of realimentation followed the restriction. Data were taken on the feed intake, weight gain and digestibility. Results obtained on average daily gain showed significant difference (P < 0.05) whereby sheep on R2 group recorded the lowest value (50.7g/day) during restriction. Digestible organic matter intake (g/Kg 0.75 d-1) for sheep on the C group was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than R1 group, but not significantly (P > 0.05) different from R2 group. The Crude protein intake was highest in the control (49.9g/day). Rumen amino acid of the control animals (4.1) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than R1 (2.1) and R2 (3.5) groups. Nitrogen intake (g/day) was significant and higher in the C group (8.0) compared to the two restricted groups R1 and R2. During realimentation period, average daily weight gain (g/day) was highest (P < 0.05) for animals in the control (57.5) and least in R2 (34.5). The feed conversion ratio ranged from 8.3 (C) to 14.3 (R2) while the total weight gain (kg) ranged from 2.1 (R2) to 3.5 (C). Similarly, the CP intake (g/day) was higher in the control group compared to those in R1 and R2 groups. However, the dietary amino acid recorded in R2 differ significantly (P < 0.05) from R1 and C groups. During the realimentation period, nitrogen intake for rams in R1 (8.8g/day) and R2 (10.1g/day) groups doubled the values obtained during the restriction period. It was concluded that rams should be restricted for one month because they gained more weight than those restricted for two months.Â