Open AccessA NOTE ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF SOME DRY SEASON FORAGES FED TO GOATS
Author(s) -
T. A. Adegbola,
I. Mecha
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nigerian journal of animal production
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0331-2062
DOI - 10.51791/njap.v15i.968
Subject(s) - panicum , dry matter , dry season , cynodon , biology , chemical composition , digitaria , agronomy , zoology , botany , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
The chemical composition of the leaves of three trees, Acioa baneri, Anacardium occidentale (Cashew) and Mangifera indica (Mango) and an herb, Aspillia africana (Hemorrhage plant), their dry matter intake (DMI, g/day) and digestibilities (%) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (0M), crude protein (CP) a crude fibre (CF) were determined in West African dwarf goats. The chemical composition of three grass species, Andropogon gayanus (Guinea grass), Cynodon nlemfuensis (Giant star grass) and Panicum maximum (Guinea grass was also determined to compare with those of the browses. The browses had higher CP (8.1-31.3%), acid detergent lignin (6.9-15.1%), Calcium (0.5-2.3%) and lower CF (9.6-23.5%) than the grasses which had 3.2-4.9% CP, 4.3-8.1% lignin, 0.43- 0.53% Ca and 24.4-28.1% CF. The consumption of fresh forages (g/d) varied from 193 on Acioa baneri to 918 on Aspilia africana. The highest DM intake was obtained on Aspilia africana, Apparent digestibility values (%) were: DM, 59.9&69.7; OM, 61.0-71.1; CP. 40.9-68.2 and CF, 39.3-64.9. Acioa batereri was the least digested of the forages. The higher CP content of the browses and their availability and acceptability by goals during the dry season in contrast 10 the low CP of the grasses indicates their potential for feeding goats. Acioa barteri is unsuitable as sole food for goats