Assessment of Adoption Status of Management Practices for West African Dwarf Goat Production in Southwestern Nigeria

This study was conducted in the Obafemi Awolowo University Rural Development Project communities in Southwestern Nigeria to investigate the adoption status of West African Dwarf Goat (WADG) management practices among the seventy (70) project participants purposively considered for the study. A structured interview was used to elicit quantitative data which was subjected to descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were also collected using focus group discussion (FGD), key informants interviews and onthe- spot assessment, which were conducted in seven rural communities. The study revealed, among others, that the farmers adopted the WADG management practices introduced to them at one point in time or the other during the project implementation, from which they derived a lot of socio-economic benefits. However, over 50 percent of the participants were no more involved in goat rearing since the project has stopped. Reasons attributed to this vary from community to community. Management practices like regular feeding (cut and carry system) and washing were claimed to be labour intensive and a little bit difficult. All (100%) respondents overwhelmingly expressed their desire for continuation and sustainability of the services provided by the project

Utilization of high leucaena diet by West African Dwarf sheep and goat

No Abstract

Performance of rabbits fed Leucaena leucocephala and concentrate between 9th and 25th weeks of age.

Fourteen fryer male Rabbits (New Zealand white and Chinchilla breeds) were used for the experiment. Equal numbers of rabbits from the two breeds were used for each treatment. The rabbits were randomly assigned to 100g and 200g of Leucaena leucocephala respectively. The rabbits in the two groups were given the same amount of pelleted concentrates from a commercial feed miller and were fed to determine the effect of level of leucaena offered/intake on the growth rate of rabbits. Four fryers which were fed the same % of concentrates and Aspilia africana served as the control. Growth rate decreased at the beginning of the study followed by satisfactory growth thereafter. The control animals had a higher growth rate compared to the other two groups (P< 0.05). Alopecia and decreased appetite were the initial symptoms of mimosine toxicity observed, but they were soon overcome with time. Rabbits can tolerate up to 100g leucaena in their diet in addition to pelleted concentrate.Keywords : Leucaena leucocephala, Rabbit, Growth rate

The effects of the levels of feed offer on the intake, digestiility and growth rate of West African dwarf goats fed Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala

No Abstract

The effect of season on the yield and nutritive value of Gliricidia sepium and Leucaera leucocephala

No Abstract

Utilization of wheat offal-carried pineapple waste in the diet of West African Dwarf goats (WAD)

This study investigated the processing of wheat offal-carried pineapple waste meal (WCPW) and its utilization in the diet of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats with a view to ascertaining the inclusion level for optimal performance. The WCPW was obtained by evaluating six different combinations of wheat offal (WO) and pineapple waste (PW). The WO and PW mixing ratio 1:2 (weight/weight) was found to be optimal as feedstuff for WAD goats using keeping quality and nutrient content as criteria. Four dietary treatments (control diet (0%), 20%, 30% and 40% WCPW) were fed to growing WAD goats of both sexes in a completely randomized design. The proximate, mineral and vitamin composition of all treatment diets were determined. Performance variables such as feed intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, nitrogen balance and retention, apparent digestibility coefficient and blood counts of the goats were evaluated. Chemical composition shows that the mineral, vitamin and crude protein (CP) contents of WCPW containing diets were more than sufficient than that required by goats for maintenance. The total feed intake (462.13 g/day), feed efficiency (9.90%), average daily weight gain (45.54%), the apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein, nitrogen balance (2.63 g/day) and retention (53.46%) of goats fed 20% WCPW were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the values obtained for goats fed other experimental diets. This indicates that animals fed 20% WCPW had the best performance characteristics. Although, the analysis of blood cells (red blood cell, white blood and packed cell volume counts) were significantly different (p<0.05) among the goats fed experimental diets, the counts fell within the normal physiological range for goats. The study demonstrated that WCPW can be included in the diet of WAD goats without any adverse effect and dietary inclusion of WCPW up to 20% was optimal for growth performance of WAD goats.Keywords: Pineapple waste, WAD goats, Wheat offa

Efficacy Of Aqueous Extract Of Carica papaya Leaf In The Control Of Coccidiosis In Chicken

The study was designed to investigate the potency of Pawpaw (Carica papaya) leaf extract (aqueous) in the treatment of coccidial infection in chicken. Three hundred cockerel chicks (aged four weeks) were used for this study. The experimental chicks were divided into five groups (treatments) of twenty each and replicated thrice. Each group was infected with sporulated oocyst of the cultured coccidian through drinking water. The crude Pawpaw leaves extract was administered intramuscularly at the rate of 2ml, 3ml and 4ml /kg to three groups respectively. Sulpha drug was injected at 0.5ml per kg body weight to the fourth group and the fifth group was not treated, to serve as control. The results of the study showed that there were significant differences in the feed intake and weight gain of chicks on different treatments overtime (

Performance characteristics of Weaner rabbits fed Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala

This study was designed to investigate the utilization of Moringa oleifera (MO) and Moringa stenopetala (MS) by weaner rabbit. In a twelve week feeding trial, forty eight weaner rabbits of about five weeks old were allotted into three treatments with each treatment consisting of sixteen rabbits in a completely randomized design. Animals in T1 were fed 50% basal diet and 50% MO, T2 50% basal diet, 25% MO and 25% MS and T3 50% basal diet and 50% MS respectively. They were fed at 4% of their body weight. Parameters measured included; feed intake, weight gain, carcass and haematological characteristics. At the end of the experiment, five rabbits from each treatment were selected based on similarity in weight and were slaughtered for carcass and haematological evaluations. The proximate analysis of the experimental diets was carried out according to the standard procedure of AOAC (2000). The data obtained were statistically analyzed with the General Linear Model of SAS (2008) and the Duncan New Multiple Range Test option of SAS (2008) was used to detect significant differences among means. The daily weight gain of T1 (8.11) and T2 (7.64) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than T3. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the digestibility coefficient of the animal across the treatments. It can be concluded from the study that feeding Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala does not have deleterious effect on the performance and carcass qualities of weaner rabbits.Keywords: Performance, Moringa oleifera, Moringa stenopetal