Multinutrients Feed Block Production Using Agro Industrial By-Products on Acceptability by West African Dwarf Goats

Abstract

Shea nut cake enriched with urea, soybean cheese waste and Gliricidia sepium was made into feed blocks using three binders (cement T1, cassava flour T2 and industrial starch T3). The feed blocks were air dried for 21 days at air temperature of about 28°C to investigate their physical properties and acceptability. Twelve (12) healthy growing West African dwarf (WAD) goats of average weight 8.0 kg were used with Daniella oleiveri as basal diet for 14 days in a completely randomized design. Feed blocks using industrial starch as binder was harder and more compact compared to the two other binding agents throughout the drying period. Chemical composition showed that highest content of dry matter was recorded for T3 (96.32%) and lowest in T2 (94.23%). T2 recorded highest crude protein content (32.71%) while T1 had the least (30.18%). Crude fibre content was also highest in T2 (4.50%) and lowest in T3 (4.42%). In addition, highest ash content was observed in T2 (8.82%) and lowest in T1 (6.79%). In terms of physical properties (hardness and compactness), feed block produced using industrial starch as binder is the best. Among the treatments, T3 was most acceptable with coefficient of preference above unity. The cost of production was highest in T3 (N80.25 /kg) and lowest in T1 (N54.00/ kg). Feed block produced using industrial starch as binder is recommended for adoption by farmers as dry season feed supplement in ruminant nutrition due to its properties and acceptance by the animals.