International Journal of
Livestock Production

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Livest. Prod.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2448
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJLP
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 290

Article in Press

Evaluation of Ackee Apple Arils Meal Based Diet on the Performance Characteristics of West Afrcan Dwarf Goat

Belewu M.A

  •  Received: 19 January 2018
  •  Accepted: 08 November 2018
Feeding livestock in the tropical environment is faced with serious shortage of proteinous feedstuffs hence; there is the urgent need to search for cheap, readily available, and non-competitive with human need for food. This study therefore was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Ackee Apple Arils meal (AAAM) in the diet of West African dwarf goats. Twelve (n=12) West African dwarf goats were randomised against four dietary Treatments A , B , C and D in a Completely Randomised design model for a 56day period. The dietary Treatment consists of A (Control without AAAM), B (2.5% AAAM), C (5.0% AAAM), D (7.5% AAAM). The results showed that the highest dry matter intake (P<0.05) was recorded for animals on Diet C with the least noted for animals on Diet B. However, Diets A and D are similar (P>0.05). Similarly, animals on Diet C consumed higher (P<0.05) crude protein than animals on Diets A and B but similar to Diet D. Contrarily, animals on Diet C consumed the least crude fibre and ash. Ether extract intake was highest for Diets B> C > D >A in that order. Animals on Diet C showed superior (P<0.05) apparent digestibility in all the parameters determined. The highest digestibility values (crude protein digestibility, ether extract digestibility, crude fibre digestibility, dry matter digestibility) were recorded for animals on Diet C. The results of the haematological and biochemical indices evaluated are similar (p>0.05) among all diets. It could be concluded from this study that inclusion of 5% AAAM in the diet of West Africa dwarf goats holds a good promise as there is no health implication noted during the study and farmers should be encouraged to embrace the new technology so as to reduce the cost of production in the management of goat.

Keywords: Ackee apple aril meal, groundnut cake, digestibility coefficient, feed intake, blood parameters