Effects of Tripsacum Laxum and Leucaena Leucocephala Supplementary Feeding on Growth of Wad Sheep and Goats Grazing Natural Pasture.

A study of the effects of Tripsacum laxum and Leucaena leucocephala supplementary feeding on growth of West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep and goats grazing on natural pasture in the North West Region of Cameroon, was conducted at IRAD Mankon on 42 WAD sheep and goats (21 sheep and 21 goats) in the dry season (November 2008 to February 2009). The experiment consisted of 3 treatments: (a) Leucaena leaves fed as supplement at the rate of 254.3±0.00 gDM/h/d, (b) Tripsacum fed as supplement at the rate of 314..3±0.00 gDM/h/d and (c) no supplementation (control group).The three treatments were allocated at random to the 21 animals of each species (7 animals per treatment).All the animals grazed on natural pasture as basal diet. Animals were dewormed prior to commencement of the study and weighed twice a month. Supplementation reduced mortality and significantly increased daily weight gains in the Leucaena supplemented sheep and goats (32.5±0.33 and 42.2±0.46g/h/d respectively, P Key words: West African Dwarf goat, West African Dwarf sheep, Tripsacum laxum, Leucaena leucocephala , weight gain, supplementation. Une etude des effets de l’alimentation complementaire au Tripsacum laxum et Leucaena leucocephala sur la croissance des moutons et des chevres nains d’Afrique de l’Ouest (WAD) s’alimentant sur les pâturages naturels dans la region du Nord-Ouest du Cameroun, a ete realisee a l’IRAD Mankon sur 42 moutons et chevres (dont 21 moutons et 21 chevres) en saison seche (de Novembre 2008 a Fevrier 2009). L’experience consistait a realiser 3 traitements: (a) - aux feuilles de Leucaena apportees comme complement au taux de 254,3 ± 0,00 gdm / h / j ;(b) - aux feuilles de Tripsacum introduites en tant que complement au taux de 314,3 ± 0,00 gdm / h / j et ; (c) - en absence de supplements (pour le groupe temoin). Les trois traitements ont ete administres au hasard sur 21 animaux de chaque espece (soit 7 animaux par traitement). Tous les animaux s’alimentaient sur des pâturages naturels comme regime de base. La supplementation a reduit la mortalite et augmente de facon significative les gains de poids quotidiens les moutons et les chevres recevant du Leucaena (32,5 ± 0,33 et 42,2 0.46g/h/d respectivement, P Mots cles: chevre naine d’Afrique de l’Ouest, mouton de Djallonke, Tripsacum laxum, Leucaena leucocephala, gain de poids, supplements.