Productive performance and cost/benefit ratio of West African Dwarf goats fed Gmelina leaf meal in their diets

Peter-Damian C. Jiwuba, Nonye L. Azodo, Amarachi A. Osuchukwu, Levi E. Okoye, Ikechukwu U. Obasi

Abstract: The effect of feeding Gmelina leaf meal (GLM) diets for 82 days was investigated on productive
performance and the cost-benefit ratio of West African dwarf (WAD) goats. Thirty six WAD goats
of about 10 to 12-month-old were divided into four groups of nine and repeated three times in each
group in this study. Four diets, A, B, C and D, were formulated in a completely randomized design
to contain GLM at 0%, 12%, 24% and 36% GLM, respectively. In the morning, each goat received a
specified treatment diet. The feed given was based on 3.5 percent body weight per day; in addition,
a kg of wilted chopped Pennisetum purperum was fed to the goats later in the day as a basal diet to
increase rumination and chime chewing. The GLM revealed high dry matter and energy values. The
findings showed a substantial increase (p < 0.05) in body weight gain and feed conversion ratios for
B, C, and D. Data on carcass indices indicated that dressing percentage, slaughter, warm carcass, loin
and set weights showed better (p < 0.05) results for goats on GLM diets compared with the control.
However, A produced better (p < 0.05) empty gut and feet weights in comparison with the treatment
(B, C and D) groups. Feed cost and feed cost/weight gain were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced from
A to D. The cost / benefit ratio was affected (p < 0.05) with D bucks having better revenue of N8.17
for each invested N1.00. It was concluded that GLM is rich in essential nutrients and therefore able to
better results at 36 percent for use in WAD goat diets.

Keywords: dressing percentage; goats; Leaf meal; meat quality and cost of production; phytogenic plant

Date published: 2021-10-27