Milk Yield and Composition of Red Sokoto Goats Fed Varying Levels of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Fruit Meal Supplement in the Diet

Abstract

The milk yield and mineral composition of Red Sokoto goats fed varying levels of baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit meal supplement was investigated over a period of 84 days. Twenty four (24) lactating Red Sokoto goats averaging 19.75 + 1.26 kg body weight were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with six 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 fruit inclusion levels having a clear significant value of 5043.50g, followed by 30%, 10% above the control with varying values of 4905.25g, 4835.60g and 3922.31g respectively. The milk yield recorded a decreased values of 3325.00g, 3189.69g, 3183.25g and 2523.50g 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 fruit 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 fruit 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.