NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN BALANCE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED PLEUROTUS TUBER-REGIUM DEGRADED CASSAVA ROOT SIEVATE

Résumé

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the apparent nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of West African dwarf (WAD) goats fed diets containing Pleurotus tuber-regium degraded cassava root sievate (PTR-CRS). Four experiment diets were formulated to contain0, 20, 40 and 60% of PTR-CRS and  designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively and fed to the animals in a 4x4 Latin square design pattern. The apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient showed higher (p < 0.05) DM, CP and crude fibre digestibility for T4 compared to other treatments. Nitrogen intake and N balance, differed significantly (P < 0.05) with goats on T4 having the best results. It could therefore be concluded that goats on T4 had the highest dry matter, crude protein and crude fibre digestibilities. In addition, nitrogen intake and retention was highest at T4, hence the inclusion of 60% PTR-CRS is recommended for enhanced N utilization and apparent nutrient digestibility by WAD goats.