GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS FED Ficus polita LEAVES WITH CASSAVA BASED CONCENTRATE DIETS.

Abstract

This study investigated the performance of West African Dwarf bucks (WAD) fed Ficus polita leaves supplemented with diets containing graded levels of cassava peel meal (CPM). A total of 20 WAD bucks were used and were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups of 4 animals per group. The animal groups were allotted the treatment diets in Table 1, in a completely randomized design (CRD). Parameters measured were growth indices and nutrient digestibility. The experiment lasted for 97 days. Results showed the total concentrate intake was 14.91kg, 16.22kg, 17.39kg, 15.30kg and 10.37kg for 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100% cassava peel meal (CPM) respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatment groups for total feed intake, average feed intake, total weight gain and average weight gain. Feed conversion ratio showed significant differences (P<0.05) between the experimental groups. Diet containing 100 % CPM had significant better value (P<0.05) than the rest of the treatments, while 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, and 75 % CPM were similar. There were no significant differences (P<0.05) in all the nutrient digestibility parameters with the exception of hemicellulose. This results show that the CPM is safe and not harmful to the health of the animals. The use of CPM is environmental friendly as it helped to reduce the levels of environmental pollution from the inappropriate disposal methods and therefore livestock farmers can incorporate up to 100% CPM in the diet of their animals.