Intake and Digestibility of Goats Fed Browse Mixtures as Supplement to Sorghum Stover

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the feed intake, weight gain and apparent nutrient digestibility of goats fed browse mixtures (Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus mauritiana) as supplement to urea treated maize stover. Four nondescript goats weighing 19.33 to 20.23 Kg were used for the experiment in a 4x4 Latin square design (LSD), with four periods, for a duration of eight weeks. The treatments were; A (control): the basal diet (sorghum stover) plus 100g cotton seed cake, B: control + 150g of Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus mauritiana (1:1), C: control + 150g of Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus mauritiana (1:2) and D: control + 150g of Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus mauritiana (1:3). All animals were allowed ad-libitum access to water and mineral lick. Results showed variation (P<0.05) in the basal diet and total dry matter intake between the treatments. When compared to the control, the supplemented groups had better daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Apparent dry matter and nutrient digestibility increased (p<0.05) with supplementation. Generally, Treatment C had better performance and apparent nutrient digestibility. In conclusion, browse mixtures can be used to upgrade the feeding value of cereal crop residues and improve the performance of goats.