RUMEN PARAMETERS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED CASSAVA PEELS-CASSAVA FOLIAGE CONCENTRATE SUPPLEMENTS

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing cassava peels-cassava foliage concentrate on rumen parameters of grazing West African Dwarf goats on rumen parameters. Twenty growing (20) West African Dwarf bucks aged 5-7months with an average body weight of 5.05±0.02kg were used in a completely randomized (CRD) experiment. The goats were randomly assigned to one of the five dietary treatments prepared from processed cassava peels and cassava foliage in different ratios of 100:0 (diet 1), 50:50 (diet 2), 60:40 (diet 3), 70:30 (diet 4) and 80:20 (diet 5). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result obtained indicated that all components of volatile fatty acids were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by dietary treatments apart from pH. The study revealed that supplementing cassava peels and cassava foliage as energy and protein source has no deleterious effect on the rumen parameters of experimental goats but can boost their potentials to enhance better rumen ecology for optimum performance and productivity of the animals.