The effect of substituting sunflower seed cake with acacia tortilis pods as a protein supplement on the performance of small East African goats
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Date
2003
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Two experiments (growth and digestibility) were conducted to investigate the effect
of substituting sunflower seed cake (SSC) with Acacia tortilis pods (Atp) as a protein
supplement on the performance of Small East African Goats. Brachiaria hay was
given as a basal diet while Atp, SSC, hominy meal (HM) and mineral mixture were
used as components of the supplementary rations. Four treatment rations based on
ground Atp and SSC as protein supplements were formulated in such a way that
ground Atp replaced 0, 33.3, 66.7 and 100 % of SSC in T|, T2, T3, and T4
respectively. In growth study, 24 female weaner goats with mean initial body weight
of 9.71± 1.56 kgs were randomly allocated to the four treatment diets. Each weaner
goat was given ad libitum hay and supplementary diet at a rate of 20g/kg body
weight. Feed intake and growth performances were recorded for 90 days. In
experiment 2, digestibility study to evaluate the effect of dietary treatments on
nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization was conducted using 12 male goats. In
growth and intake study, hay and total dry matter intake tended to increase with
increasing levels of Acacia tortilis pods in the supplementary diet, goats offered
supplementary diet T4 showed the highest intake. The CP intake did not differ
significantly (P>0.05). The intake of ME was significantly (P<0.05) different only
between Ti and T4. Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in growth rate
between the animals in Tj and those in T3 and T4. Similarly, the feed utilization
efficiency for animals in Ti was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of the animals
in T3 and T4. The treatment diets had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the apparent
digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NDF. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference
between treatments on nitrogen utilisation, however nitrogen retention was slightly
Description
Master's Theses
Keywords
Substituting sunflower seed cake, Acacia tortilis pods, Protein supplement, Small East African goats