Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Supplementation of Leucaena leucocephala hay as protein enrichment for cassava peels in West African dwarf goats

Author(s):

F. K. Otukoya , O. J. Babayemi ^*

Recieved Date: 2007-11-11, Accepted Date: 2008-03-11

Abstract:

One of the major obstacles for livestock productivity in the tropics is the low protein diets that animals consume. Leucaena leucocephala and cassava peels are respective cheap sources of protein and energy for West African dwarf goats (WAD), where conventional feed ingredients are scarce. The study examined the utilisation of a stepwise replacement of cassava peels (CSP) with Leucaena leucocephala (LL) as diets A (100% CSP), B (85% CSP + 15% LL), C (70% CSP + 30% LL) and D (55% CSP + 45% LL), to monitor feed intake, digestibility and weight gain of WAD goats. Results showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in feed DM intake (range 137.89–235.14 g/day), crude protein (CP) intake (range 2.58–6.19 g/d/kg W^0.75), weight gain (range -3.78–43.0 g/d), apparent digestibility of CP (range 65.80–86.51%), dry matter digestibility (range 71.75–77.39%), nitrogen balance (range 0.9–4.38 g/d) and nitrogen retention (range 0.82–4.09 g/d). Goats fed with 55% CSP + 45% LL had highest feed intake and the least for those on sole CSP. Weight gain (43.0 g/d) of goats fed 45% LL increased significantly while those fed on sole CSP lost weight. Apparent dry matter digestibility was highest (p<0.05) in goats for 45% LL but lowest for that in 0% LL. Dry matter digestibility of goats on 30% LL was significantly higher than those for 0, 15 and 45% LL. Nitrogen balance was apparently highest in goats consuming 45% LL and the least for 0% LL. The N retention of the goats on 45% diet was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that for 0% diet. It can be concluded that given sole cassava diets to goats seemed to be detrimental but when substituted with browse plants, a protein source such as Leucaena leucocephala up to 45% may be beneficial.

Keywords:

Leucaena leaf, cassava peels, intake, weight gain, goats

---

Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2008
Volume: 6
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 247-250

---

Full text for Subscribers

---

Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.

---

Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

---

Share this article :