Performance Characteristics of West African Dwarf Goats Fed Sweet Potato Peels and Cashew Nut Shell Supplemented with Ocimum Gratissium Leaves

Abstract

The study assessed the impact of sweet potato peels and cashew nut shell with Ocimum gratissium leaves supplementation on performance characteristics of West African Dwarf Goats under intensive system. Goats weighing between 7.98 and 8.22 kg were randomized assigned to three dietary treatment groups with six goats per treatment group. The compared treatment diets that comprised sweet potato peels and cashew nut shell  were in the following ratios, in the treatment diets;  I (30:25 ),  II (25:30) and  III ( 20:35) respectively. Concentrate of 45% was also served to each of the experimental diet, while each goat also received 8 grams of Ocimum gratissium leaves powder as supplement in the diets. The results of the study showed that diet I, has pronounced effect (P<0.05) on average total feed intake (6.42kg), feed conversion ratio (2.15), digestibility of ash (60.77%), gross energy intake (12.78MJ/Kg) and faecal energy output (3.01MJ/Kg) than other treatments. Diet II was significantly highest (P<0.05) in final body weight (12.01kgkg), average total weight gain (3.89kg), dry matter digestibility(82.43%), crude protein digestibility(62.00), total digestible nutrient (70.43%), digestible energy intake(10.33MJKg) and metabolisable energy as percentage of gross energy (1.03MJ/Kg). Ether extract with crude fibre digestibility (62.18% and 77.89%) was significantly highest in diet III compared to other treatment diets). The experiment further showed that, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in initial body weight of goats, average daily weight gain, metabolisable energy and metabolisable energy in BW^{-.75. .} It was therefore concluded that diet II improve and enhance performance characteristics of West African Dwarf Goats.

Keywords: Sweet potato peels, cashew nut shell, Ocimum gratissium, performance, goats.