EFFECTS OF FEEDING RED SOKOTO BUCKS GRADED LEVELS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE IN SEMI-ARID REGION OF NIGERIA

Résumé

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal based diets on growth performance of red Sokoto bucks. Twenty (20) red Sokoto bucks, average age of twelve months (12) were used for the study. Animals were allocated into five (5) dietary treatments T1 (0%), T2 (5%), T3 (10%), T4 (15%), and T5 20% representing Moringa oleifera inclusion levels with four animals per treatments, in a completely randomized design. The study lasted for 14 weeks. The result obtained showed that animal in T5 fed 20% Moringa oleifera leaf had significantly (P < 0.05) higher in final body weight compared to other treatments. The result indicated there were signicant (P<0,05) differences between body weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency. It was therefore recommended that, Moringa oleifera leaf could be included up to 20% level in the diet of Red Sokoto Bucks without any adverse effect on performance.