ABSTRACT

Three major experiments involving 28 adult and young West African dwarf goats were conducted to evaluate the effect of pigeon pea-cassava peel based diets on nutrient intake and digestibility (Experiment1), body weight changes and blood chemistry (Experiment 2), and on milk yield and composition (Experiment 3). Four diets A. B. C. D. were formulated ( from cassava peel, palm kernel cake, brewers dried grain, bone meal, common salt) to contain 0, 10, 20 and 30% pigeon pea seed meal (PSM), respectively. These diets were randomly allotted to 12 animals in 4 groups, in Experiments 2 and 3, and to 4 animals in Experiment 1, in a 4x4 Latin square design. Parameters determined (Experiment 1) were feed and dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance per group. In Experiment 2, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), dressing percent (DP), cost per kg gain as well as some haematological profile were monitored, while weekly yield and milk composition were evaluated in Experiment 3. Results showed that incorporating PSM in cassava peel based diets generally enhanced intake in WAD goats. DMI, N-faeces, N-balance, and apparent N-digestibility values were not affected (P>0.05).Urinary nitrogen values however differed significantly (P<0.05) and were 0.74, 0.79, 0.80 and 0.82 g/d for diets A. B. C and D, respectively. Metabolic faecal nitrogen (g/lOOgDM), endogenous urinary nitrogen and digestible crude protein (g/d/Wkg0.75) values for maintenance were 0.19, 0.269, 1.50; 0.22, 0.031, 3.18; 025, 0.021, 4.87 and 0.34, 0.035 and 5.31 for diets A, B, C, and D, respectively. All diets promoted positive N-balance. The PSM fed does required 2.8 times as much DCP as the control fed does for maintenance. In Experiment 2, ADG D (98.05 g/d). FCR k I 1 i IfIp I I h I r I k was least for the control diet (45.8 g/d) and highest for diet were comparatively (P>0.05) low for diets C (4.83) and D (4.61) while cost per kg gain was significantly (P<0.05) low for diet C (N94.61). DP also differed (P<0.05) among treatment groups with diets C (52.25%) and D (50.63%) having comparatively higher values than diets A (50.40%) and B (50.63%). Diet C performed better than the other diets as a fattening ration. Also, the PCV, WBC, blood urea, sugar, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) differed significantly (P<0.05) among treatment groups, however, the values obtained were within the stipulated range for goats. Weekly yield and milk compositions differed (P<0.05) among treatment groups in Experiment 3. Diet B promoted the highest milk yield (2.33kg) and also the highest SNF (9.92%) and energy (2.16MJ/kg) compositions of milk. Diet A- the control however influenced the least yield (1.39kg) as well as the least TS (14.72%), CP (4.33%), SNF (9.59%) and energy (1.73MJ/kg) in milk. Milk yield was negatively and significantly correlated with TS (r = -0.52; P<0.05), BF (r = -0.69; PO.Ol) and CP (r = -0.30; P<0.05) but poorly and positively (P<0.05) correlated with SNF (r = 0.05), lactose (r =0.27) and energy (r =0.33). Significant (P<0.05) high positive correlation existed between BF and TS (r =0.84) and CP and TS ( r =0.61), while the relationships between energy and TS, CP and SNF, lactose and SNF and BF and CP were also positive and significant (P<0.05, r = 0.40,0.32,0.31,0.42).