Feed intake and nutrient digestibility of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat fed Pennisetum purpureum supplemented with Gmelina arborea

Abstract

Nine (9) West African dwarf goats (8 weeks of age, averaging 6.3 + 1.3 kg body weight) were used in a 42 day feeding trial to determine the effect of feeding Pennisetum purpureum supplemented with Gmelina arborea on diet intake and nutrient digestibility of goats. The experimental diets were diets 1, 2 and 3 with 0%, 25%, 50% Gmelina arborea leaves and 100%, 75%, 50% Pennisetum purpureum inclusion respectively. The diets contained between 9.1 – 10% crude protein and the goats were fed 2.5% of body weight DM or 900 g of fresh feed per day. Result indicated lack of significant (P > 0.05) differences in the final body weight, although there were significant differences (P < 0.05) on feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency among the treatment. However, goats on diet 2 performed better than others in all production parameters measured when compared with the control diet. All the nutrients digestibility investigated were significantly affected (P < 0.01). Result obtained from this study showed that West African dwarf goats can be fed up to 25% Gmelina arborea and 75% Pennisetum purpureum inclusion in diet without loss in body weight performance.