THE EFFECTS OF FEEDING Balanites aegyptiaca AND MIXTURES O Balanites aegyptiaca AND Ziziphus Mauritania ON NITROGEN INTAKE AND RETENTION BY GOATS

Abstract

A digestibility trial was conducted to determine the effect of feeding browse mixtures on nitrogen retention and intake in goats. Four goats with a mean live weight of 15.75kg 0.5 were randomly assigned to four treatments in 4*4Latin square design. Each period lasted for 14 days. The treatment group were: Balanites only Ziziphus at in addition, Water and mineral salt lick were provided ad-libitum. Dry matter intake showed significant differences (P<0.5) among the treatments. Goats on treatment B, C and D had similar (P>.05) dry matter intake while goats fed on treatment A had the lowest dry matter intake. The daily live weight gains were 107.05, 35.00 and 40.00g/day for A,B,C and D. Nitrogen intake differed significantly (P<0.05) between treatment D had the highest Nitrogen intake and treatment A had the lowest Nitrogen intake (8.39g/day). Faecal nitrogen output differed significantly (p<0.05) between treatment A, B, C and D The faecal Nitrogen was lowest in animals fed treatment and the values were :1.56,7.22. 7.53 and 11.09g/day for treatment A, B, C and D respectively. In conclusion feeding Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus Mauritania in the ratio of 1.1, 12 and 1:23 improved nitrogen intake on goats compared to Balanites aegyptiaca alone.