GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND RUMEN MICROBIAL POPULATION OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED DIETS CONTAINING SCENT LEAF (Ocimum gratissimum)

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the growth performance and rumen microbial population of twenty West African dwarf goats fed scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) as additive in a concentrate supplement. The goats were divided into four treatment groups (T1, T2, T3 andT4) with five replicates in a completely randomized design. Four concentrate supplements were formulated to contain scent leaf at levels 0,5,10, and 15g/kg DM. Panicum maximum was the basal diet. Chemical composition of scent leaf and the diets were determined; Rumen fluid was collected from the goats before and after the experiment to determine microbial population. Results showed that scent leaf has moderate crude protein of 10.61% and rich in tannin, saponin and oxalate. Scent leaf (O. gratissimum) inclusion did not have any significant (p>0.05) effect on feed intake and weight gain. At the end of the experiment, bacteria and protozoa counts were not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the experimental diets, however there was a reduction in their values. Fungi count was significantly (p<0.05) affected by the diets and their values reduced as the level of scent leaf in the diets increased. The highest count (0.35×106cfu/ml) was obtained in T1 (control) and the lowest value (0.05×106cfu/ml) obtained in goats fed 15g/kg DM scent leaf (T4). It can therefore be concluded that scent leaf can be included in the diets of West African dwarf goats up to 15g/kg DM without any negative effect on feed intake and weight gain