ABSTRACT

A study was conducted using three lactating F) Red Sokoto (RS) X West African Dwarf (WAD) goats in a 3X3 Latin Square arrangement to evaluate the effect of three forages supplemented with concentrate on yield and composition of milk. The experiment which lasted for a period of six weeks showed that the forages contained 8.78, 14.32 and 15.35% crude protein for Panicum maximum (Guinea grass), Centrocema pubescens (centro) and Calapogonium mucunoides (Calapo) respectively. Grasses generally are poor in protein content when compared with legume forages. The two legumes averaged I 4.32 and 15.35% Crude Protein respectively for Centrocema pubescens and Calapogonium mucunoides. The milk yield (g/day) were 28.11, 29.44 and 29.44 respectively for Tl, T2 and T3. The values were similar (P>0.05). The Total Solids (%), Solids-not-fat (%), Lactose (%) and Gross Energy (MJ/KgDm) were similar in the three treatments. On the other hand Butterfat (%), Crude Protein (%) and Ash (%) differed significantly among the treatment (P<0.05). The ash percent values ranged from 0.93 to 0.96 while crude protein ranged from 3.88% in Tl to 3.92 in T2 and T3. Butterfat percent was highest in Tl. The energy values were similar but tended to be higher in the legume forage diets. The relationship between Butterfat and Crude Protein was very close (r=0.97) with exception of total solids and solids-not-fat and lactose. The relationship between the other milk constituents did not show any significant difference. However, further study on the nutrient composition of goat milk should still be carried out in future especially when it comes to crossbreeding Red Sokoto with West African Dwarf goats. Form the result, the milk constituents reported here were similar to those obtained else where