EFFECT OF AFRICAN BLACK PLUM (Vitex doniana) NUTRIENT BLOCK SUPPLEMENTATION ON LIVE WEIGHT CHANGES OF SAHEL DOES AND KIDS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of African black plum (ABP) multi- nutrient block supplementation on the live-weight changes of Sahel does and kids. A total of twelve (12) lactating Sahel does (2years old) were randomly assigned to three treatments: 0% ABP (F1), ABP leaf meal (F2), and ABP fruit meal

(F3) multi-nutrient blocks with four does per treatment in a completely randomized design. Live-weight changes were recorded bi-weekly. Data generated were analyzed using SAS (2005) Statistical Package and differences between means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The trial evaluated the effect of

nutrient block supplementation on live-weight changes of the does and their kids. Experimental does were offered basal diet ad libitum and supplemented with multi-nutrient blocks. The trend of live-weight changes observed in the does showed a decline (p<0.05) soon after kidding up to the 4th week and stabilized thereafter, although does on ABP leaf meal (F2) treatment group had slightly higher (p<0.05) weight gain (22.00 kg) compared to does on F3 (20.50 kg) and the control (20.00 kg). The trend of live-weight changes of the kids suckled by does on the treatment groups showed a steady increase (p<0.05) in the live-weight gains of the kids up to the 12th week; with kids suckled by does on F2 (ABP leaf meal) having higher (p<0.05) weight gain (4.45 kg). It was concluded that supplementing lactating Sahel does with ABP leaf meal (F2) multi-nutrient blocks improved the weight gain of the does and kids. The study recommended ABP leaf meal (F2) multi-nutrient block supplementation for lactating Sahel does for increased weight gain of the does and kids.