ABSTRACT

Two experiments involving the West African Dwarf (WAD) goats were conducted to evaluate nutrient intake and digestibility of diets containing varying levels of cassava peel meal. Twelve (12) bucks averaging 5 kg body weight were used for the digestibility trial while four (4) lactating does in their first parity were involved in the lactation study. Four diets were formulated on 100 kg basis to contain 0, 10, 20, and 30 percent cassava peel meal and designated A, B, C and D respectively. In the digestibility trial, the twelve bucks were randomly divided into four groups of three animals each and housed individually in metabolism cages. The lactation study involved four lactating WAD does and each randomly assigned to any of the four diets in a 4 x 4 Latin Square arrangement. Feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of bucks in each group were measured. Results showed that the dry matter intake (DM1) (glday) increased significantly (P<0.05) from 178.05 in diet A to 274.93 in diet D. Similarly, the N-intake (g/day) increased significantly (P><0.05) from diet A to diet D. The values were 6.16, 7.03, 8.34 and 8.55 g/day respectively for diets A, B, C and D. Absorbed nitrogen (g/day) and nitrogen balance values (glday) increased progressively (P><0.05) with increasing levels of cassava peel meal in the diets. Apparent nitrogen digestibility did not differ significantly (P>0.05). The values were 76.54, 82.32, 78.09 and 75.51 % for diets A, B, C and D respectively. The digestibility coefficients (%) of dry matter, cmde protein, ether extract and energy were similar (P>0.05) among the diets. In the lactation study, milk yield was measured daily and analysed for total solids (TS), butterfat (BF), crude protein (CP), solids-not-fat (SNF), lactose, ash, calcium, phosphorus and energy. Solids-corrected milk (SCM) and fat-corrected milk (FCM) were also calculated. Milk yield values (g/day) obtained for does on diets A, B, C and D respectively were 139.58, 131.70, 142.93 and 169.28. Milk yield and FCM did not differ (P>0.05) among the diets. Values of total solids (TS) differed significantly (P<0.05) among the treatment diets and tended to increase as the level of cassava peel meal increased in the diets. The values were 11.36, 10.69, 11.55 and 11.57 % for diets A, B, C and D respectively. Diet D yielded the highest (P><0.05) milk x energy. The CP, SNF and ash contents of the milk differed significantly (P>0.05). Positive and significant (P<0.01). There were also positive but non-significant (P>0.05) differences between BF and SNF, milk energy and BF and milk yield and milk protein. In conclusion, the quality and quantity of milk of the WAD goats can be improved to commercial standard through special attention to the nutritional plan