EFFECT OF BREEDS OF GOATS ON FEED INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF SORGHUM HUSKS AND COWPEA HAULMS

Abstract

A 2x2 factorial experiment involving two breeds of goats (Red Sokoto and Red Sokoto X Sahel goat which last for eight (8) days was conducted to determine the effects of breeds on feed intake and digestibility of sorghum husk and cowpea haulms. Eight goats with an average weight of 18-23kg were arranged in completely randomized design. The animals were divided into four treatments (T) groups. T1 comprises of Red Sokoto (RS) goats fed soghum husk while T2, T3 and T4 were Red Sokoto X Sahel (RSXS) goats fed sorghum husk, RS fed cowpea haulms and RSXS goats fed cowpea haulms respectively. Chemical (dry
matter, crude protein, ether extract and Ash contents, Non fibre carbohydrates, Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), Acid detergent fibre (ADF) and Acid detergent lignin (ADL) Hemicellulose and Cellulose) analysis and apparent digestibility coeffeicients of the forages were determined according to appropriate procedures A.O.AC (2000) and Van Soest et al. (1991) respectively. The results of chemical analysis showed significant (P<0.05) difference in all the parameters examined, except on dry matter, acid detergent fibre (ADL) and Cellulose components of the forages. The digestibility results of the forage (Sorghum husk and
Cowpea haulms) showed no significant (P>0.05) difference among the breeds parameters measured except on NFC, Ash, CP and Hemicellulose. The study concluded that there is no significant effect of breeds on digestibility parameters except hemicelluloses where RSXS goat recorded significantly higher values over RS goats. RS goats have better digestibility sorghum crude protein over the RSXS.