ABSTRACT

Twelve (12) West African dwarf (WAD) bucks, aged 6-8 months were used to evaluate the

growth performance of West African dwarf (WAD) bucks fed varying combinations of palm leaf

and Aichornea cordfolia leaf. The animals were divided into four (4) treatment groups with

three (3) animals per treatment group with each animal representing a replicate. Each group was

assigned to one of the experimental diets in a completely randomized design. Four (4) diets were

made up of oil palm leaf and Aichornea cordfolia leaf at the ratios of 75:25, 50:50, 25:75,

designated to T2, T3and T4respectively. T1 group was fed with basal forage of Panicum

maximum and Centrosema pubensens. The various groups also received concentrate diet

supplementation. The proximate composition of concentrate diet and basal forages fed to WAD

goats, as well as the proximate and anti-nutrient composition of Oil palm leaf and Aichornea

cordifolia leaf fed to WAD goats during the experiment were determined. The total dry matter

intake (TDMI) for concentrate showed that WAD goats fed diet T3(0.80kg) were significantly

(p<0.05) higher followed by WAD goats fed diet T4(0.67kg) while WAD goats fed diet T1

(0.28kg) had the least value. The total dry matter intake (TDMI) for oil palm showed that WAD

goats fed diet T2 (23.50kg) were significantly (p<0.05) higher followed by WAD goats fed diet

T3(13.00kg). Also, the total dry matter intake (TDMI) for Aichornea cordifolia showed that

WAD goats fed diet T4(11.92kg) were significantly (p<0.05) higher while WAD goats fed diet

T1 (0.00kg) had the least total dry matter intake (TDMI) for Aichornea cordfolia. The average

daily dry matter intake (ADDMI) of WAD goats fed diet T1(1 193 .33g) had the highest, followed

by WAD goats fed diet T2(803.33g) and the least was recorded by WAD goats fed diet T4

(520.00g). The FCR of WAD goats fed diet T1 (28.97) were significantly (p<O.OS) higher while

the least was recorded by WAD goats fed diet T2 (5.97). The final body weight showed that

there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. WAD goats fed diet T2

(7.33kg) had the highest value. The body length change of WAD goats range from (3.67cm)

obtained in diet T2to (6.67cm) obtained in diet T4. The heart girth change of WAD goats range

from (1.33cm) obtained in diet T4to (2.33cm) obtained in diet T2, while the height at wither

change of WAD goats range from (1.00cm) obtained in diet T3to (3.00cm) obtained in diet T1. It

is concluded from this study that combination of Oil palm leaf (75%) and Aichornea cordifolia

leaf (25%) can be included in the diets of WAD goats without deleterious effect on growth

performance.