PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND FORAGE PREFERENCE OF SOME BROWSE PLANTS BY WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS.

Abstract

A study was carried out to investigate the suitability of utilising some selected browse plants: Leuceana leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Azadiractha indica, Terminalia catapa and Gmelina arborea in the feeding of ruminant livestock. The proximate composition and in vitro gas production techniques were used to assess the nutritive value of the leaves as well as their forage acceptability using a cafeteria method involving eleven adult West African dwarf goats. The crude protein (CP) ranged from 11.59 — 26.78%, the crude fiber (CF) ranged from 10.13 — 14.33%. The mean daily intake was highest (5.99kg) in Leuceana leucocephala and lowest (0.60kg) in Azadiractha indica.The coefficient of the forage was best in Leuceana leucocephala (1.83 )and Gliricidia sepium (1.70), better in Gmelina arborea (1.00) and poor in Azadiractha indica (0.60) and Terminalia catapa (0.97). The results showed that these selected browse plants have good level of nutrients, all except Azadiractha indica are well accepted by ruminants.