PERFORMANCE OF RED SOKOTO GOATS FED INCLUSION LEVELS OF MIXED GMELINA (Gmelina arborea) AND MORINGA (Moringa oleifera) LEAF MEAL in Digitaria smutsii HAY BASED DIETS

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ABSTRACT

Studies were conducted to investigate the effect of mixed Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera leaf meal inclusion on the performance of Red Sokoto goats fed Digitaria smutsii hay based complete diets. Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera leaf meals were mixed atthe ratio of 3:1 and included at 0, 10, 20 and 30% in a 40 % D. smutsii hay base. In the first growth trial, 20 intact Red Sokoto bucks between 4 and 5 months of age with a mean weight of 12.00±0.20kg were used to ascertain the effect of mixed Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera (GMMO) leaf meal inclusion on dry matter intake, live weight, cost- benefit, haematological and serum biochemical parameters of Red Sokoto does fed D. smutsii hay based complete diets. The bucks (20) balanced by weight, were randomly assigned to four treatments of five bucks per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design. The experimental diets were offered at 4% body weight and the trial lasted for 90 days. A metabolism trial was conducted at the end of the feeding trial to investigate the effect of inclusion levels of GMMO leaf meal on nitrogen intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance. The second experiment on growth trial was carried out to investigate the effect of GMMO leaf meal inclusion on dry matter intake, live weight, total weight gain, cost benefit, haematological and serum biochemical parameters of Red Sokoto does fed D. smutsii hay based complete diets. Twenty-eight (28) growing Red Sokoto does aged between 6 and 7 months weighing 14.71±0.09 kg balanced by weight, were randomly assigned to four treatments of seven does per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design. The third study investigated the effect of GMMO leaf meal inclusion on dry matter intake, live weight, pregnancy, birth weight, haematological and serum biochemical parameters and milk composition of Red Sokoto does fed D. smutsii hay based complete diets. Twenty-four pregnant Red Sokoto does aged between 13 and 14 months, weighing 22.50 ±0.12 kg balanced by weight, were randomly assigned to four treatments of six does (in their last trimester of pregnancy) per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design. Animals were fed 4% of their body weight in all the studies. Results showed that daily feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in animals on GMMO leaf meal than 0% and this ranged from 237.79g/d to 330.17g/d. Total weight gain varied from 2.86 to 4.20 kg, while average daily weight gain ranged from 31.78 to 46.67 g/d in animals fed diets with 0% and 20% leaf meal, respectively. The optimal level of inclusion of GMMO in the diets of growing Red Sokoto bucks was 25%. Dry matter and organic matter digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) higher in animals fed 10% (75.86%, 84.97%) and 20% (73.16%, 84.98%) respectively, compared to other treatments. Crude protein digestibility was similar and ranged from 72.60% in animals fed 30% to 77.62% in those fed 20%. Crude fibre digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) different across the treatments with highest value in animals fed 20% GMMO leaf meal (76.15%). The results of N intake was statistically similar (P>0.05) in bucks fed 10% and 20% inclusion level. Nitrogen retention was significantly (P>0.05) similar in animals fed 0%, 10% and 20% GMMO leaf meal. Animals fed 0%, 10% and 20% GMMO leaf meal had significantly (P>0.05) similar total weight gain (2.80kg, 3.30 kg and 3.38 kg), respectively. Trend analysis showed 15% inclusion as the optimum level of GMMO leaf meal in the diets of growing Red Sokoto does. The net profit and reduction in feed cost/kg gain at 20% GMMO leaf meal inclusion were highest in the first and second experiment. The inclusion of GMMO leaf meal increased dry matter intake, birth weight of kids and milk protein of the Red Sokoto does. Dry matter intake was significantly (P>0.05) similar in does fed 10%, 20% and 30% GMMO leaf meal. Birth weight was significantly higher (P<0.05) in does fed 20% and 30% GMMO leaf meal (1.58 kg and 1.68 kg) respectively. The values of haematological and serum biochemical parameters recorded were within the normal range for healthy goats. Milk protein was significantly (P<0.05) better in does fed 10% and 20% GMMO leaf meal. Lactose content in does fed 30% GMMO leaf meal was comparable to those fed the control diet. This study concluded that, by mixing Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera leaf meal at the ratio of 3:1 in a D. smutsii hay based diet fed to Red Sokoto bucks and does, respectively produced higher dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, weight gain and birth weight.

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Ruminant livestock have a unique digestive system that allows them to use energy from

fibrous plants materials better than other herbivores. Their digestive system is designed to

ferment feedstuffs and provide precursors for energy for the animal to use (Parish et al.,

2009).

Forages play an important role in ruminant animal nutrition. Ruminants are able to

ruminate or regurgitate ingested high forage diets to reduce particle size for improving their

digestibility (Ranjbar, 2007; Parish et al., 2009). However, inadequate supply of all year

round quality forage is a major constraint to livestock production in the tropics (Ajayi et al.,

2005; Ogunbosoye and Babayemi, 2010a). Most available ruminant feeds/feedstuffs during

the dry season are poor in nutrients which deteriorate rapidly with increasing fibre and

decreasing protein (Babayemi, 2007).

Sources of cheaper alternative forages of high quality for ruminants have been a subject of

research in recent years (Alan et al., 2013) especially for farmers in the tropics. Browse

plants have great potential as source of high quality nutrient for ruminants, being high in

protein, minerals and vitamins (Babayemi et al., 2003). They are available all year round

because of their drought resistance, persistence, vigorous growth, re-growth and palatability

(Reynolds and Atta-Krah, 2006).

The use of browse plants as supplement have been shown to enhance intake, improve

growth rate and increase reproduction in ruminants (Osakwe and Udeogu, 2007; Lamidi et

 

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al., 2009; Okafor et al., 2012). However, most of these forage trees have not been widely

used because they often contain anti-nutritional compounds that have deleterious effects on

animal performance (Ghosh et al., 2007).

Moringa oleifera Lamarck which originated from India is widely distributed and has

become naturalized in many locations in the tropics (Fahey, 2005). It is a non-leguminous

multipurpose tree and one of the fastest growing trees of the world. Moringa is one of the

promising plants which could contribute to increased intake of some essential nutrients and

health-promoting phytochemicals (Alikwe and Omotosho, 2013; Nweze and Nwafor

(2014). It has a high crude protein content ranging from 20-26% CP in leaves (Kakengi et

al., 2005; Ben Salem et al., 2004; Asaolu et al., 2011) with negligible contents of anti-

nutrients (Makkar and Becker, 1996). Moringa has been reported for its unique nutrient

profile (Ofoh et al., 2011). Moringa can grow up to 12m in height at maturity, with a yield

up to 120 t/ha/yr when it is densely planted for use as forage crop (Makkar and Becker,

1996).

Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Family verbenanceae) is a fast growing deciduous tree that can

grow up to 40 m tall and 140 cm in diameter (Jensen, 1995). Even though Gmelina arborea

can shed some of its leaves when the dry season is approaching, the regrowth of new leaves

could serve as animal feed during this period.

The leaves are high in nutrient. Previous records (Okafor et al., 2012; Osakwe and Udeogu,

2007; Ahamefule et al., 2006) have shown that the leaves contain as much as 10.01-38.4%

crude protein and 3.10-30.46 % crude fibre with low level of anti nutritional compounds.

 

Justification for the study

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1.2

Small ruminants are kept for meat, milk, wool and skin. In Nigeria, they are primarily

produced for meat. The meat from goat is preferable to those from other animal species

because of its flavour, tenderness and palatability (Idiong and Orok, 2008).

There is demand for chevon (goat meat) and goats have characteristics as the species of

animals that can meet this demand because they are highly prolific (Webb and Mamabolo,

2004). They are able to utilize degraded land, and thrive under conditions that other species

cannot cope with (Devendra, 1999).

There is need therefore to provide adequate nutrition to goats to allow them produce

optimally, and address the problem of weight loss and reduction in milk production during

the dry season. As a result of these nutritional issues, supplementation of goat diets is necessary. The usual practice has been to supplement livestock diets with protein rich ingredients such as groundnut cake (GNC), soybean meal (SBM) and cotton seed cake (CSC). These supplements are often not fed due to their unavailability and their high costs (Nouala et al., 2006; Olomola et al., 2008). Cheaper and more available supplements are needed to enhance productivity in the tropics. In earlier studies with Red Sokoto goats (Abdu et al., 2012; Okafor et al., 2012), high nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization and average daily weight gain were reported for animals on Gmelina arborea leaves. This study investigated the use of Gmelina leaf meal in combination with Moringa leaf meal in the diet of Red Sokoto goats.

1.3 Aim and Objectives

This study was designed to investigate the effect of mixed Gmelina arborea and Moringa

oleifera leaf meal inclusion on performance of Red Sokoto goats fed D. smutsii hay based diets. The specific objectives were to determine:

Effect of mixed Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera (GMMO) leaf meal

inclusion on dry matter intake, growth and nutrient digestibility of Red Sokoto bucks in D. smutsii hay based diets.

Effect of GMMO leaf meal on dry matter intake, growth, pregnancy, birth weight of Red Sokoto kids and milk composition in lactating Red Sokoto does.

Effect of GMMO leaf meal inclusion on haematological and serum biochemical parameters in Red Sokoto goats fed D. smutsii hay based diets.

The cost benefit of feeding GMMO leaf meal inclusion to Red Sokoto goats.

1.4 Hypotheses

1. H o: Mixed Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera (GMMO) leaf meal inclusion has

no significant effect on dry matter intake, growth and nutrient digestibility in Red

sokoto bucks fed D. smutsii hay based diets.

2. H o: Mixed Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera leaf meal inclusion has no

significant effects on dry matter intake, growth, pregnancy, birth weight of Red

Sokoto kids and milk composition in lactating Red Sokoto does.

3. H o: GMMO leaf meals inclusion has no significant effect on cost benefit of Red

Sokoto goats fed D. smutsii hay based diets.

 

H a: Mixed Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera (GMMO) leaf meal inclusion has significant effect on dry matter intake, growth and digestibility in Red Sokoto bucks fed D. smutsii hay based diets. H a: Mixed Gmelina arborea and Moringa oleifera leaf meal inclusion has significant effects on dry matter intake, growth, pregnancy, birth weight of Red Sokoto kids and milk composition in lactating Red Sokoto does. H a: GMMO leaf meals inclusion has significant effect on cost benefit in Red Sokoto goats fed D. smutsii hay based diets.

 

 

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