Abstract:
Goats grazing natural pasture are challenged with seasonal variation in pasture availability and nutritive value. Therefore, improving the nutrition of goats through supplementary feeding during periods of pasture or nutrient deficit is necessary for improved productivity. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of supplementary feed based on three browses (Samanea saman, Acacia auriculiformis, and Ficus exasperata) and cassava peels on the performance of West African Dwarf goats, on a basal diet of Andropogon gayanus (Gamba grass) hay. An acceptability study revealed that the goats accepted all the four supplements but had a significant (P<0.05) preference for cassava peel meal-based and Samanea saman leaf meal-based supplements over Ficus exasperata leaf meal-based and Acacia auriculiformis leaf meal-based supplements. Although there was no marked difference in dry matter intakes across the four supplements (P>0.05), intake of crude protein was significantly higher (P<0.05) in goats fed ficus leaf meal-based than those fed cassava peel meal-based supplement. All the haematological parameters tested did not show significant (P>0.05) differences across experimental diets. Also, all the serum biochemical parameters tested were not affected, except blood urea concentration which was higher (P<0.05) in goats fed Samanea saman leaf meal-based supplement. The growth and the carcass parameters were also not affected (P>0.05) by the dietary treatments. It was therefore concluded that, Samanea saman, Acacia auriculiformis and Ficus exasperata leaf meals and cassava peel meal-based pelleted supplements are acceptable to goats and have similar nutrient composition, hence, they could be fed to goats on low quality forages during the dry season with no negative influence on feed intake and utilisation, growth, carcass quality, physiology and health of goats.
