Milk Yield and Composition of Red Sokoto Goats Fed Varying Levels of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Pulp and Seed Meal

Abstract

The milk yield and mineral composition of Red Sokoto goats fed varying levels of baobab (Adansonia digitata) pulp and seed meal was investigated over a period of 84 days. Sixteen (16) lactating Red Sokoto goats averaging 19.75 + 1.26 kg body weight were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with four animals per replicate in a completely randomized design to determine the quantity and quality of milk produced. Treatment 1 was control with no baobab pulp and seed supplement, Treatments 2, 3 and 4 had 10%, 20% and 30% baobab pulp and seed inclusion respectively. The milk yield and mineral composition were significantly affected (P<0.05). Milk yield progressively increased for all treatments to week four where the peak was recorded for the yield with 20% baobab pulp and seed inclusion levels having a clear significant value of 720.20g, followed by 30%, 10% above the control with varying values of 700.75g, 690.80 and 560.33g respectively. The milk yield recorded a decreased values of 475.00g, 455.67, 454.75 and 360.50 for 20%, 10%, 30% and 0% inclusion levels at the end of 12^th week. There were significant difference (P<0.05) in the values of Total solids, Fat and lactose. For milk composition; 30% inclusion level recorded the highest values for Total solids, fat and lactose at figures of 17.38%, 5.78% and 6.64% respectively. The fat content of the milk in the study were at the increasing range of 3.0 %, 4.05%, 4.60% and 5.78% respectively for inclusion levels of 0 – 30% baobab pulp and seed in the experimental diets. Milk produced by the experimental animals on 20% and 30% levels of inclusion recorded the overall best results in term of mineral composition. The results of the study had shown that inclusion of baobab at 20 % in the diet of Red Sokoto goats gave the highest milk yield . Inclusion at 30% level also gave better results in term of mineral composition.

Keywords: baobab pulp and seed, red sokoto goat, milk yield and mineral composition.