RESPONSE OF KANO BROWN GOATS FED GMELINA ARBOREA LEAVES AND SUPPLEMENTED WITH DIETS CONTAINING WATER SOAKED SWEET ORANGE (Citrus sinensis) PEELS

Abstract

Twenty male grower Kano brown goats of weights 6.750 kg - 9.000 kg, and age between 5 - 8 months were used in a completely randomized design to assess the performance of Kano brown goats fed Gmelina arborea leaves and supplemented with concentrate diets containing different level of water soaked sweet orange peel meal (WSSOPM). Four dietary treatments were formulated and compounded to contain 0%, 50%, 60% and 70% FSOPM, and were designated T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively in a fourty-two day feeding trial. Results showed that there were no treatment effects (P>0.05) on mean daily weight gain, total
forage intake and feed conversion ratio. However, treatment effect was apparent (p<0.05) on the total concentrate intake, total feed intake and mean daily feed intake. The wholesale cuts showed treatment effects on the shoulder values. T1 (11.21) was significantly higher (P>0.05) than all the other treatments, while T3 (8.54) had the lowest value. However, other wholesale cuts values such as chest, loin, back, thigh, rib and neck were all similar (P>0.05) across the treatments. Water soaked sweet orange peel meal can replace up to 70% of maize offal in goat diets without adverse effects on the performance and wholesale cuts.