Sour sop (Annona muricata L) leaf meal enhanced growth ofWest African Dwarf goats

Apart from the use of sour sop (Annonamuricata) as food crop, the leaves, seeds andmany of the plant parts are used in traditional medicine for treatment of kidney problems, fever with antispasmodic, antidysenteric, and parasiticidal activity. Thus, a 63 day study was conducted to evaluate the feed potentials and effect of sour sop (Annona muricata) leafmeal (AMLM) on growth performance ofWest African dwarf (WAD) weaned goats. Nine (9)WAD goats were grouped into three and assigned diets containing 0%, 10%, and 20%Annona leaf meal.Formulated feedswere offered at3%of bodyweight in themorning andgmelina leaves later in the day. Feed intake was recorded daily while weight gain was taken weekly and feed conversion ratio was calculated to determine growth performance. Proximate composition of the leaf meal was determined according AOAC, (2000). The result showed high metabolisable energy, dry matter, ash, and crude fiber of 2563.5Kcal/Kg, 93.91%, 10.62% and 16.20% respectively,moderate level of nitrogen free extract (42.39%) and crude protein (20.41%) which is an indication thatAnnonamuricata leafmeal could be a suitable feedstuff for ruminant animals. The performance results showed that feed intake was significantly higher in group 1(0%AMLM) and lower in group 3(20%AMLM). However, no significant (P>0.05) differences were observed among the groups on weight gain and feed conversion ratio proving that the diet treatment had no significant effect on the goats. Therefore,Annona muricata leafmeal could be an alternative to high-cost goat nutritionwithout compromising growth performance.