ABSTRACT

 In two separate experiments, the replacement value of tiger nut meal (TNM) for maize offal was evaluated. The experiments were subjected to 4X4 Latin Square Design using four goats per experiment. In the first experiment, nutrient digestibility and apparent nitrogen utilization by West African dwarf (WAD) bucks were evaluated while the second experiment was a lactation study involving WAD does. Four dietary treatments designated Tl, TI, T3 and T4 were formulated to contain 0, 30; 10, 20; 20, 10 and 30, 0 percentages of maize offal and TNM respectively. The bucks and does averaged I 1.0kg and 14.5kg live weights respectively. The results showed that the diets; Tl, TI, T3 and T4 contained 14.35, 13.58, 13.31 and 13.33 % CP and 1.74, 1.70, 1.73 and 1.73 MJ/kg of energy respectively. Except ether extract, all the nutrients evaluated for apparent digestibility did not differ (P>0.05) statistically. Increasing levels of TNM promoted higher ether extract digestibility (P<0.05). Ether extract digestibility values ranged from 48.97- 69.82%. The apparent nitrogen (N) utilization study showed that all the parameters evaluated were statistically unaffected {P>0.05) by the treatments. Dry matter intake (DMI) was within the range of 2.85- 3 .07% of live weight. Performance evaluation of the WAD does showed non-significant (P>0.05) effect of diets. Milk yield {g/d) ranged from 68.52 - 132.55. Apart from solids-not fat (SNF)(%) and fat-corrected milk (FCM)(g), all the milk constituents studied were influenced statistically (P<0.05) by the diets. Total solids (TS) were recorded highest in T4 while Tl had the highest milk protein. TS ranged from 12.37- 14.80% while 4.33 - 4.81 % were recorded for milk protein. Butter fat percentage varied (P<0.05) statistically across the treatments. Increasing levels of TNM promoted higher butterfat percentage with a range of 3.99- 5.83 from Tl -T4. Ash and lactose contents of milk were all influenced similarly by diets with ranges of 0.92 - 1.03% and 4.26 - 4.80% respectively. Solids-corrected milk (SCM, g) ranged from 98.90- 121.34 while milk energy (MJ/kg) recorded a range of 3.50- 4.33. Butterfat and SNF appeared to have great effect on the milk energy. From the results, it could be xii deduced that tiger nut has great potential to improve milk yield and composition as well as overall animal performance if properly harnessed. It is recommended that TNM should replace maize offal up to 30% in the concentrate diet for lactating does for maximum yield and quality of milk.  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Certification Page

Declaration Page

Dedication Page

Acknowledgment

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

List of Plates

Abstract

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Information

1.2 Objectives of the Study

1.3 Statement of Problem

1.4 Justification

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Tiger Nut

2.1.1 Nutritional and chemical composition of tiger nut

2.2 Goat

2.2.1 Origin and domestication

2.2.2 Nigerian indigenous goat breeds

2.2.2.1 Sahel (Desert) goat

2.2.2.2 Red Sokoto (Maradi) goat

2.2.2.3 West African Dwarf (WAD) goat

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iii

iv

V

vi-viii

ix

X

xi

xii-xiii

1-3

3

4

4

5-7

8

8

8

9

9

9-10

10-11

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2.2.3 Management systems in goat production 11-13

2.3 Milk Production from Goats 13

2.3.1 World goat milk production 13

2.3.2 Milk production from indigenous Nigeria goats 16

2.3.3 Milk production from exotic dairy breeds of goats 18-21

2.3.4 Importance of goat milk 21-22

2.3.5 Goat milk by-products 22

2.3.5.1 Fermented milk products 22-24

2.4 Nutrient Requirements of Goat 24

2.4.l Dry matter (OM) requirement 24-25

2.4.2 Energy requirement 25

2.4.3 Protein requirement 25-26

2.4.4 Mineral and vitamin requirements 26

2.4.5 Water requirement 27

CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 The Location of the Experiments 28

3.2 Experiment 1 28

3.2.l Experimental animals and their management 28-29

3.2.2 Experimental diets 29

3.2.3 Digestibility studies 31

3.3 Experiment II 31

3.3. l Experimental animals and their management 31

3.3.2 Lactation study 32

3.3.3 Milk collection/measurement 32

3.3.4 Milk sampling 32

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3.3.5 Analytical procedures

3.4 Experimental Designs and Statistical Analysis

33

34

CHAPTER 4: RES UL TS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Experiment 1

4.1.1 Nutrient composition of maize offal, tiger nut and experimental diets

35

35-37

4.1.2 Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients by WAD goats fed diets containing

tiger nut meal as replacement for maize offal 38

4.1.3 Nitrogen balance and utilization by WAD goat fed diets containing tiger nut

meal as replacement for maize offal 40

4.2 Experiment II 42

4.2.1 Performance of WAD does fed diets containing tiger nut meal as replacement

for maize offal 42

4.2.2 Composition of milk of WAD does fed diets containing tiger nut meal as

replacement for maize offal 44-46

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 47

References 48-56

Appendix 57-67

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1: The amount of goat milk produced in top ten countries, number of dairy

goats and the average amount of milk produced by a dairy doe 14

Table 2.2: Milk yield and composition of RS and WAD does 17

Table 2.3: Means of milk yield by breed, stage of lactation, season and parity of Saanen,

British Alpine and Toggenburg 19

Table 2.4: Mean milk composition (per 100 g) as influenced by breed, lactation stage,

season and parity 20

Table 3.1: Composition of the experimental diets 30

Table 4.1: Nutrient composition of experimental diets and major feedstuffs used in diet

formulation 36

Table 4.2: Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients by WAD goats fed diets

containing tiger nut meal as replacement for maize offal 39

Table 4.3: Nitrogen balance and utilization by WAD goat fed diets containing tiger

nut meal as replacement for maize offal 41

Table 4.4 Performance of WAD does fed diets containing tiger nut meal as

replacement for maize offal 43

Table 4.5 Composition of milk of WAD does diets containing tiger nut meal as

replacement for maize offal 45

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LIST OF FIGURE

Fig. 1: Total amount of goat milk produced during the period from 1990 to 2008 15

X

LIST OF PLATES

Plate l: Tiger nut plant (Cyperus esculentus) 6

Plate 2: Sahel (Desert) goat 9

Plate 3: Maradi goat 10

Plate 4: West African dwarf goat 11