ABSTRACT

 An evaluation of Mucuna seed meal (MSM)-based diets for goat production in South-Eastern Nigeria was conducted through four experiments involving 28 adult and young West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. In experiment 1, twelve individually housed WAD bucks averaging 9.8 ± 1.24kg were assigned to 4 dietary treatments (A, B, C and D) of three replicates each in a completely randomized design (CRD). The basal diet was Panicum maximum while the concentrate diets contained, 0, 10, 20 and 30% MSM respectively. The experiment lasted 56 days. The mean daily weight gains were 0.036, 0.041, 0.057 and 0.033kg for diets A, B, C and D respectively. The means were similar (P>0.05). Concentrate intake/gain ratios were 7.24, 5.88, 3.91 and 5.10 for diets A, B, C and D respectively. Diet A differed significantly (P<0.05) from diets B, C and D. The 12 bucks were slaughtered for carcass evaluation at the end of the growth studies. Dressing percentages were 48.58, 51.15, 52.37 and 49.56% for diets. A, B, C and D respectively. The values differed significantly (P<0.05). The cost of concentrate per kg of weight gained showed that diet A was the most expensive (N213.04) followed by diets B (N176.22), D (157.83) and C (N120.87) in that order. The prices differed significantly (P<0.05). In experiment 2, four uncastrated WAD bucks with mean liveweight range of 11.88 -12.13kg were used in a 4 x 4 a Latin Square Experiment to determine the digestibility of MSM-based concentrate diets used for growth studies. The values for MFN (g/100gDM) were 0.15, 0.17, 0.16, and 0.21 for diets A, B, C and D respectively. The values for EUN (g/day/kg W075) were 0.29, 0.80, 0.27 and for diets A, B, C and D respectively. The values for DCP (g/kg W075) were0.25, 2.13, 0.88 and0.13 for diets A, B, C and D respectively. All the diets promoted positive N-balance. In experiment 3, twelve individually housed WAD does in their mid-lactation were used to determine the effect of MSM-based concentrate diets on yield and composition of goat milk. The does were divided into 4 groups of' 3 replicates in a CRD and assigned to one of diets A, B, C and D which contained 0, 30, 40 and 50% MSM respectively plus a basal diet of Andropogon gayanus. The experiment lasted 30 days. Daily milk yields (g) were 174.0, 255.01, 319.50 and 297.59 in that order for diets A, B, C and D and they differed significantly (P<0.05). Fat, protein, SNF, ash and milk energy values did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the treatments but total solids (TS) and lactose differed (P<0.05). The values for TS were 17.22, 16.47, 19.65 and 17.48% y for diets A, B, C and D respectively. Diets A, B and D were similar (P > 0.05) but they differed significantly (P < 0.05) from diet C. Duplicate blood samples for determination of haematological and biochemical indices were collected through vein puncture from each of the 3 does that received each of diets A, B, C and D used in the lactation study. Haematological indices for diets A, B, C and D were 7.73, 25.53, 17.07 and 11.33 (x 10 9/l) for WBC; 9.13, 9.60 7.93 and 7.40 (x1012/l) for RBC; 91.00, 94.33, 82.00 and 82.00 g/l for Hb; 27.33, 28.33, 24.67 and24.67% for PCV and 33.29, 33.30, 33.23 and 33.22% for MCHC in that order. Significant differences (P < 0.05) among treatments were observed in WBC and RBC values. Biochemical indices for diets A, B, C and D were 7.53, 7.47, 6.69 and 6.91 mmol/l for urea; 35.36, 35.36, 26.52 and 23.39 mmol/l for creatinine; 2.72, 2.39, 3.78 and 3.64 mmol/l for glucose; 2.94, 2.90, 2.88 and 2.87 mmol/l for cholesterol; 70.00, 71.33, 75.33 and81 .mmol/l for total protein; 46.67, 44.00, 39.00 and 54.33 g/l for albumin and 23.33, 27.33, 36.33 and 26.67g/l for globulin respectively. The differences among treatment groups were only significant (P < 0.05) for albumin.. In experiment 4, four intact WAD bucks were used in a 4 x 4 Latin Square Experiment to determine the intake and digestibility of 4 concentrate diets used in the lactation study. The MFN (g/100g MM) EUN (g/day/kg W075) and DCP (g/day/kg W075) values for maintenance were 1.67, 0.86, 0.61, 0.71, 0.53, 0.38; 0.04, 0.92, 0.82 and 2.15, 0.18 and 0.09 for diets A, B, C and D in that order. All the diets promoted positive N-balance, which did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The inclusion of 20 and 40% MSM in concentrate diets for growing and lactating goats respectively gave the best results in this study and are recommended for goat production in South-Eastern Nigeria.