Performance and linear body measurements of WAD goats fed Panicum maximum supplemented with cassava and A spilia africana leaves
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Abstract
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of feeding Panicum maximum supplemented with Aspilia africana and cassava leaves on the performance and linear body characteristics of WAD goats between 4 and 5 months of age with an average body weight of 5.5 kg. Twenty-four intact male goats were randomly allotted to four treatments with six goats per treatment in a completely randomized design. The control diet (Treatment I) was solely P. maximum (SPM); (Treatment II) P. maximum + cassava leaves (PM 50%-CL 50%); (Treatment III) P. maximum + A. africana (PM50%-AA50%); and (Treatment IV) P. maximum + A. africana + cassava leaves (PM33.3%-AA33.3%-CL33.3%), respectively. Animals were housed with concrete floor; the pens used were raised at about 1m above the floor, with each compartment measuring 1.6 × 0.94m and the experiment lasted for eight weeks. Feed intake (differences in fresh forage supplied and leftover) was obtained daily, and the weight gain and linear body parameters (using flexible measuring tape) were measured at weekly intervals. Data were analysed using GENSTAT v11 statistical package. Results showed that the mean weekly weight gain, mean daily feed intake were not significantly different (p>0.05) between the treatment groups. However, feed conversion ratio was significantly different (p<0.05). The linear body parameters were not significantly different (p>0.05), except for the height at withers. Based on the results, it was concluded that feeding goats with P. maximum should be encouraged and supplementation with cassava leaves at equal proportion (PM 50%-CL 50%) is recommended.
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