Weight Gain and Cost Benefit of West African Dwarf Goats Fed Pleurotus tuber-regium Biodegraded Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Peels Based Diets
R. E. Barde *
Animal Science Department, College of Agriculture, Lafia, Nigeria
S. Attah
Animal Production Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
A. Wuanor
Animal Production Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
U. Okpanachi
Animal Production Department, Kogi State University, Ayangba, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To determine the growth gain and cost benefit of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed diets containing white rot fungi (Pleurotus tuber-regium) biodegraded cassava peels based diets.
Study Design: Completely randomized designed experiment.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the ruminant farm Unit of the College of Agriculture, Lafia, Nigeria located Latitude N08°29′8.66′′; Longitude E08°29′49.10′′and Altitude 164.5 m; in the guinea savannah vegetation. The experiment lasted for 84 days.
Methodology: Twenty intact WAD bucks of aged between 7-9 months and weighing on the average 6.17±0.96 kg were randomly allocated to five treatment diets (T1-T5) containing untreated cassava peels (UCPS) and Pleurotus tuber-regium biodegraded cassava peels (PT-CPS) compounded as follows: T1 – 100% untreated cassava peels (UCPS), T2 – 100% Pleurotus tuber regium treated Cassava Peels (PT-CPS). T3 – 75% UCPS + 25% PT-CPS. T4 – 50% UCPS + 50% PT-CPS and T5 – 25% UCPS + 75% PT-CPS. Daily feed intake, weekly weight gain, feed conversion ratio, benefit, cost and cost benefit ratio were evaluated.
Results: Weight gain of WAD bucks fed treatment diets showed significant (P = .05) final weight of 13.25 kg by bucks fed 100% PT-CPS diet (T2), and the lowest 8.00 kg for 100% UCPS. Bucks onT2 diets also recorded the highest (P = .05) total mean weight gain of 7.08 kg while bucks on control T1 diet had 1.73 kg as total mean weight gain. Weekly feed intake by the bucks were equally highest (P = .05) for bucks in T2 (1,749.75 g) and lowest for bucks in T1 (1,501.13 g). Cost per kg feed consumed recorded a significant (P = .05) N50.66 for 100% PT-CPS diet. Benefit cost ratio (BCR) showed a superior (P = .05) 3.38 for bucks fed 100% PT-CPS diet (T2) and lowest BCR value of 0.91 obtained for bucks fed 100% UCPS diet (T1); inferring treatment T1 is not worth adopting. It was concluded that incorporation of 100% of cassava peels (45% of the diet) biodegraded by Pleurotus tuber-regium for 21 days had potential economic gain in growing West African Dwarf goats.
Keywords: Biodegraded, cassava peels, Pleurotus tuber-regium, WAD goats, weight gain