ABSTRACT

 In two separate experiments, the production characteristics of goats fed dried poultry waste (DPW) in fermented cassava peel-based diets at varying inclusion rates were evaluated. In experiment 1, four (4) Red Sokoto does in mid lactation weighing between 20-22kg were assigned to 4 treatment diets. Diet A devoid of DPW served as the control diet. Diets B, C and D contained DPW at 10, 20 and 30% levels respectively. The experimental design was a 4 X 4 Latin square arrangement.During the 56-day feeding trial, feed intake was recorded; milk yield (MY) was measured and lactose analysed daily. The milk was bulked and later analyzed for total solids (TS), butterfat (BF), milk protein, solids-not-fat (SNF), ash and milk energy. The results showed that inclusion of DPW in the diets significantly (P<0.05) improved feed intake. Feed intake values (kg/day) were 0.87, 0.84, 0.88 and 1.25 for diets A, B, C and D respectively. Diet D (30% DPW) promoted the highest feed intake. Mean milk yield (kg/day) were 0.04, 0.05, 0.09 and 0.18 respectively for diets A, B, C and D. Diet D (30% DPW) differed significantly (P><0.05) from other treatment diets and also promoted the highest milk yield. TS, BF, fat-corrected-milk yield (FCM) and solid-corrected-milk yield (SCM) also differed significantly among the treatment groups. The group on diet B (10% DPW) recorded the highest TS (13.25%) and BF (5,01%) while the group on diet D (30% DPW) recorded the least TS and BF values. The group on diet D gave the highest FCM (0.l7kg/d) and SCM (0.16kg/d) while the least was from the group on the control (diet A). Milk yield was negatively correlated (P><0.05) with TS (r = -0.61) and BF (r -0.49). Negative correlations also existed between MY and milk protein (r = -0.32), MY and SNF (r -0.22), MY and energy (r = -0.38) and positively with lactose (r = 0.02). However, these correlations were not significant (P>0.05). Significant positive correlations (P<0.05) existed between BF and TS (r = 0.94), energy and TS (r = 0.89), energy and BF (r = 0.73), milk protein and SNF (r = 0.77), lactose and SNF (r = 0.93), BF and milk protein (r = 0.60). The group on diet D was the least in cost (N22.35) per kilogram of diet, however, this did not differ (P>0.05) significantly from the other treatments groups. Cost (N) per kilogram (kg) of milk yield differed significantly (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. Diet D (30% DPW) recorded the least cost/kg of milk yield (N159.0). In the 2' experiment, the nutrient digestibility coefficients and nitrogen balance were evaluated using four (4) West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. The animals were confined individually in metabolism cages and offered the treatment diets (A-D) in a 4X4 Latin square design. Feed consumed and refused as well as faeces and urine voided were measured. Body weights were also measured. Also determined were the metabolic fecal nitrogen (MFN), endogenous urinary nitrogen (EUN) and digestible crude proteins (DCP) for maintenance. The experiment also lasted for 56 days. Result showed that the digestibility coefficients for dry matter (DM), crude fibre (CF) and energy differed significantly (P<0,05) among treatment groups. Furthermore, N- intake, faecal-N, urinary-N, N-balance and absorbed-N increased significantly (P><0.05) as the percentage of DPW in the diets increased. DM1 and apparent-N- digestibility however, did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. The values were 358.33, 426.67, 470.82, 457.30 (g/d) and 87.22, 84.3, 84.67 and 86.26 (%) for diets A-D respectively. Metabolic faecal nitrogen (MFN) (g 1 100gDM) endogenous urinary nitrogen (EUN) and digestible crude protein (DCP) g d 'Wkg°75values for maintenance were 0.48, 2.88, 4.82, 4.50; 1.25, 0.65, 8.36, 9.55 and 3.98; 1.78, 21.68 and 18.73 for diets A, B, C and D respectively. All diets promoted positive Nbalance. The diets did not adversely affect the animal's health. Milk yield was increased and feed cost reduced with the inclusion of DPW in the diets.