Performance Response and Blood Profile of West African Dwarf Goats Fed Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) Leaves Supplemented with Diets Containing Different Levels of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Peels

Abstract

Nine male grower West African Dwarf (WAD) goats with an average weight of 9.30 kg, aged between 5-7 months were used in a completely randomized design to assess the growth performance and blood profile of WAD goats fed shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) leaves and supplemented with concentrate diets containing different levels of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel meal (SOPM). Three dietary treatments were formulated and compounded to contain 0%, 25%, and 50% SOPM, and were designated T1, T2, and T3 respectively in an eighty-four day feeding trial. Results showed that mean daily weight gain (18.10-27.14 g/day), mean daily feed intake (426.6-462.0 gday/) and final weight (10.20-10.39 kg) were not significantly different (P>0.05) among the treatments. Packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and serum biochemical components showed no significant change among the treatments (P>0.05). This showed that WAD goats fed Shea butter as forage can be supplemented with diets containing up to 50% SOPM without compromising either the growth performance or the health status of the animals.