ABSTRACT

 An experiment was conducted to compare the performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed Panicum maximum (PM) with Manniophytum fulvum (MF). Alehornea cordifolia (AC), and Gmelina arborea (GA) combination, supplemented with concentrate diet. Twelve WAD goats were divided into four groups of 3 animals each in Completely Randomized Design with each animal serving as a replicate. The treatment diets T:. T; T-< and T< all had PM and concentrate common, while T2. T3 and T4 had in addition MF. AC. and GA respectively. Feeding trial lasted 8 weeks. Data collected include feed intake, weight gain and linear body measurements, feed conversion ratio. For grass intake, the T, 31306.40g exhibit significantly (p<005) difference than T; 17914.40g. Tj 17923.80g and T4 18116.00g respectively. The total body weight change was 3.83kg for T . 4.57kg for T2, 4.33kg for Tj and 4.00kg for T4 respectively. Daily Dry Matter Intake Tr (740.10g), T2 (708.20g). Tj (698.10g) and T4 (701.50g), Daily Body Weight changes (g) were T (68.33), T2 (80.67), T3 (77.33) and T4 (71.33), which was similar (pX).O5) for T- and 1 j but significantly (p><0.05) higher in T2 than Tj and T4. Feed conversion ratio which were 10.84, 8.78, 9.03 and 9.83 for Tj, T2. T3 and T4 respectively was similar (p>0.05) in T2 Ti and T4 groups but the Tj group was better (p<0.05) than the T> group. Daily Heart girth change (cm) wasT. (0.01), T; (0.03), T3 (0.02) and T4 (0.02), Daily Body length change (cm) was 1 (0.02), T2 (0.03). 1% (0 03) and T4 (0.02) and Daily Height at Wither change (cm) was T< (0.02). Tj (0.03), T< (0.02) and T4 (0.02) respectively, exhibit no significantly (pX).O5) difference among the treatments. From this study, the performance of West Africa Dwarf goats on T2 and T< fed MJ and AC with combination of PM and concentrate performed belter than those on the other groups. The use of MF or AC as a combination with PM and supplemented with concentrate is recommended for goat fattening in the tropical rain forest.