EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF SORREL SEED MEAL SUPPLEMENTED TO GROUNDNUT HAY OF MIXED BREEDS OF GOATS IN SEMI ARID ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of using sorrel seed meal as a supplement to groundnut hay on nutrient digestibility in mixed breeds of goats and it lasted for 68 days. A total of four (4) bucks were used for the experiment which comprised of an animal per treatment with an average weight of 19.8kg. They were individually weighed and were randomly allocated in metabolic cages. The observed and recorded parameters were; feed intake, weight changes and digestibility. Groundnut hay was used as the basal diet supplemented with SSM at graded levels of 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% for treatment 1, 2, 3, and 4 in a Latin Square Design. The nutrient digestibility was higher in all the animals, The study indicated significant difference (P< 0.05) in total feed intake among the animals. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in live weight changes, hence of animal D tends to have higher value of 650/period with corresponding feed intake of 1012g/DM/day. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) difference in nutrient digestibility among the animals, although the values were all higher which indicates that supplementing goats with SSM result to better nutrient digestibility and a good protein source.