Abstract:
This experiment was conducted to determine the growth and reproductive performance with nutrient digestibility of goats fed locust bean pulp with melon husk supplemented diets. A total of eighteen West African dwarf goats with mean weight of 6.00 +- 0.15kg were allotted to three dietary treatments. Each of the treatment was replicated twice with three goats per replicate in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments comprised; Diet A(100% guinea grass that served as the control group), diet B(70% guinea grass and 15% locust bean pulp with 10% melon husk) and diet C(50% guinea grass and 30% locust bean pulp with 20% melon husk). The results showed that goats on diet A had higher significant (P < 0.05) on average daily feed intake (246.92g/day), feed conversion ratio (7.95) and ash digestibility (70.09%), while ether extract digestibility (65.30%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in goats on diet B. Final weight (9.50kg), total weight gain (3.40kg), average daily weight gain (40.48g/day), dry matter digestibility (81.96%), crude fibre digestibility (74.33%) and scrotal length (10.05mm) were significantly (P < 0.05) better in diet C compared with diets A and B. Initial weight, semen volume, spermatozoa motility, live sperm cells and scrotal circumference were not significantly (P > 0.05) different. It was concluded that 50% guinea grass and 30% locust bean pulp with 20% melon husk has the potential to promote weight gain, nutrient digestibility and reproductive performance of goats. |
