NUTRIENT INTAKE AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS FED VARYING LEVELS OF SHIVAN (GMELINA ARBOREA) AND SANDPAPER (FICUS EXASPERATA) LEAF MEALS

Abstract

Livestock farmers face significant challenges during the dry season due to a shortage of quality feeds, leading to reduced productivity among livestock. Utilisation of total mixed rations (TMR) has been employed as an alternative feeding strategy to overcome this shortage. Five experimental diets were compounded of which four contained either Gmelina arborea leaf meal (GLM) or Ficus exasperata leaf meal (FLM). Control diet, having no GLM or FLM (0GLM0FLM), the other four cassava peel-based diets each containing either 10 or 20 % inclusion levels: 10 % GLM, 20 % GLM, 10 % FLM, 20 % FLM. Thirty (30) growing WAD bucks, weighing 5.00 ± 0.08 kg, were randomly allotted five experimental diets in a completely randomised design.  Hence, this study evaluated nutrient intake and growth performance characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks fed shivan and sandpaper leaf meals in a 56-day feeding trial.  Results showed that nutrient intake and growth performance were significantly (p<0.05) affected by dietary treatments, with improved values at 10 % inclusion levels of either of the two fodders in cassava peel-based diets. However, negative values were observed on growth performance on 20 % inclusion levels of either of the two fodders with Diets 20 % GLM and 20 % FLM, resulting in losses of weight of 14.29 and 3.57 g/animal/day, respectively. It could therefore be concluded that inclusion of GLM and FLM fodders at 10 % in cassava peel-based diets improved nutrient intake and performance characteristics of WAD bucks.