ABSTRACT

In two experiments, the effects of supplementing cassava peel meal based diets with blood meal on feed intake aad digestibility by the West African Dwarf (WAD) goals were evaluated. In the first study, four WAD bucks aged 6 — 8 months and weighing 6 — 9 kg were used to determine feed intake and nutrient digestibility of blood meal: cassava peel meal based diets. The diets containing 0(A), 6(B), 12(C) and 18(D) % blood meal were randomly allotted to individual animals in metabolic cages in a 4 x 4 Latin squire arrangement. The second experiment involves twelve growing WAD (6 — 8 months old; 6 — 8 kg body weight) were used to evaluate growth performance and carcass characteristics. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups of 3 goats each and housed separately in pens. They were fed one of the test diets as in experiment 1 in a completely randomised design. Weekly weights and daily feed intake were recorded. At the end of the 56 — day feeding trial, the 12 bucks were weighed and slaughtered for carcass evaluation. The results showed that the apparent digestibility values for dry matter(DM), crude protein(CP), crude fibre(CF), ether extract(EE), nitrogen free extract(NFE), and metabolisable energy(ME) were 54.92, 58.13, 56.24, 53.57; 55.79, 57.45, 55.13, 53.39; 59.33, 56.98, 56.80, 56.76; 61.42, 71.44, 66.44, 58.44; 68.84, 59.52, 57.15, 44.90 and 67.02, 67.24, 68.34 and 61.37 % for diets A, B, C and D respectively. The values were similar (P>0.05). The values for N-intake, faecal-N, absorbed-N and N-balance increased from diet A — D as CP intake increased. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between the means. The values decreased as the level of blood meal increased in the diets. Apparent N digestibility values were 53.31, 58.84, 56.14 and 54.41 % for A, B, C and D respectively. The values were similar (P>0.05) and decreased with increasing levels of blood meal. The xii feeding trial showed daily feed intake values of213.39, 251.37, 226.79 and 206.79 g respectively for A, B, C and D. These mean values did not differ significantly (P>0.05). However, the da4i1y feed consumption to decrease as the blood meal increased in the diet. Body weight changes (g/day) for A, B, C and D were 2.86, 4.46, 3.57 and 3.25 respectively. These values were similar (P>0.05). The dressing-out percentage values were 41.73, 45.69, 42.40 and 41.67 respectively for A, B, C and D. These mean values were significantly (P<0.05) different. It is recommended that incorporation of blood meal in cassava peel meal based diets for WAD goats in southeastern Nigeria should not exceed 6%. At this level, optimum body weight gain and dressing-out percentage were achieved at the least cost>