ABSTRACT

Four West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks aged between 10-17 months and averaging 10.kg were used in a study to determine the intake and digeslibility of papaya leaf meal based diets. The WAD bucks were confined individually in metabolism cages and assigned one of the four experimental diets in a 4 x 4 Latin Square design. The diets were (A) 90% Cassava peel meal + 10% Dried Brewers Grain (DBG), (B) 80% cassava peel meal + 10% DBG + 10% papaya leaf meal, (C) 70% cassava peei meal + 10% DBG + 20% papaya leaf meal and (D) 60% cassava peel meal ± 10% DBG +  30% papaya leaf meal. The results showed that the crude protein content (%) of the experimental diets were 8.75, 10.94, 15.31 and 19.69, and energy (Kcal/g) 4.02, 4.08, 4.17 and 4.32 respectively for diets A, B, C and D. The diy matter (DM) digestibility values (%) were 64.09, 60.16, 58.02 and 65.85, while the corresponding values of the treatments for crude fibre (%) were 86.81, 81.95, 85.08 and 87.54 respectively and ether extract (%) were 57.65, 64.96, 54.62 and 73.80. The values of the various attributes did not differ significantly (P>0.05) in all the treatments. The digestibility coefficients of crude protein were 54.69, 38.09, 48.99 and 68.30 for diets A, B, C, and D respectively. These values differed significantly (P<0.05). Diets D and A were similar (P>0.05) but diet D was different (P<0.05) from B and C. Dry matter intake was enhanced with increased proportions of papaya leaf meal. The values were 297.90, 393.12, 398.56 and 434.36 gfday respectively for diets A, B, C and D. These values did not sigmhcantly differ (P>0.05). The mean total nitrogen intake ranged from 4.3 1, g/day in diet A to 13.68 g/day in dict D. The mean nitrogen valucs differed signifcant1y (P<O.05). The nitrogen balance values wcre 1.97, 2.11, 3.53 and 7.25g/day for diets A, 13, C and D respectively. Similarly the values were significantly (P<O.05) different. The level of nitrogen retained by animals in all the diets were similar (P>O.05) however, goats fed diet D retained nitrogen than in the other diets. When expressed on metabolic body weight basis, mca nitrogen intake (g/day/Wkg°75) values were different. Nitrogen balance and nitrogen absorbed (g/day/Wkg°75) followed the same trend. The mean apparent nitrogen digestibility values were 54.72, 38.08, 49.44 and 68.45 % for diets A, B, C and D respectively. These values were significantly dilThrcnt. (P<0.05). Diets A, B and C had similar values (P>0.05). The test diets promoted a positive nitrogen balance among the animals with diet D recording the best Performance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page

Certification page ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgment iv

Table of contents v

List of tables vi

Abstract vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.1. Introduction.

1.2. Justification. 3

1.3. Objectives. 3

CHAPTER TWO 4

2.0. Literature review. 4

2.1. Food protein of animal origin. 4

2.2. Demand and consumption pattern of protein of animal origin5

2.3. Contribution of goat to food protein of animal origin. 6

2.4. Importance of goat to the national economy. 6

2.5. Breed of goats in Nigeria and their distribution. 7

2.6. Goat production system. 8

2.7. Feeding habits of goats 9

2.8. Goat nutrition. 10

2.8.0. Nutrient requirement of goats. 11

2.8.1. Energy requirement. 11

2.8.2. Protein requirement. 12

2.8.3. Mineral and vitamin requirement 13

2.8.4. Water requirement 14

2.8.4.1. Functional roles of water. 14

2.8.4.2. Sources of water. 15

2.8.4.3. Effects of water deprivation 16

2.8.5. Dry matter (DM) requirement 16

2.8.9. Voluntary feed intake 17

2.9.1. Factors affecting voluntary fccd intake 17

2.9.1.1. Physical characteristics of the feed 17

2.9.1.2. Capacity of the rumen and reticulum 18

2.9.1.3. Concentrate supplementation 18

2.9.1.4. Physiological state oithe animal 18

2.9.1.5. Digestibility of food 19

2.10. Digestibility of nutrients by ruminant animals 19

2.10.1 Factors affecting digestibility of nutrients by ruminant

animals 19

2.10.1.1. Chemical composition of feed. 20

2.10.1.2. Ration composition 20

2.10.1.3. Methods of feed preparation 21

2.10.1.4. Animal factor 21

2.10.1.5. Intake and rate of passage (level of feeding) 22

2.10.1.6. Nitrogen balance 22

2.11. Cassava as livestock feed. 22

2.11.1. Cassava as products and by products used as livestock fecd.23

2.11.2. Utilization of cassava pcl by ruminants 24

2.11.3. Nutrient content of cassava peel. 24

2.11.4. Constraints to utilization of cassava peel and

methods of detoxification 25

2.12. Use of carica papaya in livestock industry. 26

2.12.1. caiica papaya leaves as livestock feed. 26

2.12.2. Nutrient content of papaya leaves. 27

2.12.3. Constraints to utilization of papaya leaves and

detoxification methods. 27

CI-IAPTER THREE 29

3.0. Materials and method. 29

3.1. Experimental site 29

3.2. Experimental animals and management. 29

3.3. Experimental diets. 30

3.4. Digestibility studies. 31

3.5. Chemical and statistical analyses. 3 1

CHAPTER FOUR 32

4.0. Results and discussion. 32

4.1. Proximate composition of experimental diets and diets'

ingredients 32

4.2. Apparent digestibility coefficient of cassava peel/dried

brewers grain/papaya leaf meal diets. 35

4.3. Nitrogen balance. 38

CHAPTER FIVE 42

5.1. Conclusion and recommendation. 42

REFERENCES 43

APPENDIX 55