EFFECT OF NEEM LEAF MEAL ON PERFORMANCE OF PREGNANT WEST AFRICAN DWARF (WAD) DOES

Abstract

A 150-day study was conducted to determine the performance and pregnancy rate of intensively managed West African dwarf goats to concentrate supplement containing varying levels of neem leaf meal (NLM). Twelve (12) West African Dwarf does with an average live weight of 11. 15.70 ± 0.81 kg were used in a Completely Randomized Design with animals grouped into three treatments of four replicates each balanced for weight, The animals were fed Panicum maximum in the morning with a daily supplementation of 350g concentrate diet containing varying levels of neem leaf meal at 0, 2.5, and 5%. Daily feed intake (1217.11g/day) of goats increased (P < 0.05) and daily weight gain (46.14g/day) of goats increased (P > 0.05) with inclusion of A. indica. However, the feed conversion ratio of the animals fed neem leaf meal increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with the animals in the control. This study, however, concluded that neem leaf supplementation in reproducing traditionally managed WAD goats enhanced pregnancy development. Neem leaf inclusion at 2.5% in West African dwarf goat's diet had effects on the overall performance of the animals with a potential improvement in feed conversion ratio.