COMPARATIVE GROWTH EFFECT OF HURA CREPITANS, PANICUM MAXIMUM AND STYLOSANTHES SCABRA AS FORAGES FOR WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS.

Authors

  • E. E. Nsa University of Calabar, Calabar
  • E. E. Archibong University of Calabar, Calabar
  • P. O. Ozung University of Calabar, Calabar
  • T. N. Kperun University of Calabar, Calabar
  • E. D. Izuki University of Calabar, Calabar
  • G. E. Edet University of Calabar, Calabar
  • E. D. Elemi University of Calabar, Calabar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5533

Keywords:

Growth, forages, anti-nutrients, goat

Abstract

A feeding trial of 63 days was conducted using thirty male West African Dwarf (WAD) goats with an average initial weight of 6.16±0.25 kg and between 6 and 8 months of age. The goats were allotted to three (3) treatments of 10 goats each and 2 replicates of 5 goats each in a completely randomized design. Performance studies were carried out, after the initial 2 weeks acclimatization period. The three forages used were Hura crepitans leaves (HCL), Panicum maximum (PM) and Stylosanthes Scabra (SS) representing treatments 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The forages were cut and fed to the animals every morning from 06:00 am and withdrawn by 06:00 pm for concentrate feed. The proximate composition showed that HCL was higher (p<00.5) in crude protein (18.22%) than PM (13.98%) and SS (15.91%). Likewise, in ether extract (7.20%) but lower in crude fibre (20.04%) than PM (22.81%) and SS (26.13%). The daily weight gain, final live weight and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p<0.05) different across the forages. The highest daily weight gain (262.53g) and final live weight (22.71Kg) were observed for goats fed HCL, while the least value for ADWG (220.00g) and FLW(20.06Kg) were recorded for goats fed SS. Feed conversion ratio was also most favorable for goats on HCL than goats fed PM and SS. Feed intake showed non-significant (p<0.05) difference across treatments. It was concluded that Hura crepitans leaves could comfortably replace Panicum maximum and Stylosanthes scabra in West African Dwarf goats’ diets, with improved growth performance.

Author Biographies

E. E. Nsa, University of Calabar, Calabar

Department of Animal Science

E. E. Archibong, University of Calabar, Calabar

Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar

P. O. Ozung, University of Calabar, Calabar

Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar

T. N. Kperun, University of Calabar, Calabar

Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar

E. D. Izuki, University of Calabar, Calabar

Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar

G. E. Edet, University of Calabar, Calabar

Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar

E. D. Elemi, University of Calabar, Calabar

Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Calabar

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Published

2024-07-20

How to Cite

Nsa, E. E. ., Archibong, E. E. ., Ozung, P. O., Kperun, T. N. ., Izuki, E. D. ., Edet, G. E. ., & Elemi, E. D. . (2024). COMPARATIVE GROWTH EFFECT OF HURA CREPITANS, PANICUM MAXIMUM AND STYLOSANTHES SCABRA AS FORAGES FOR WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 686–689. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5533

Issue

2023: NSAP 2023 Proceedings

Section

Articles

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