Performance Characteristics of West African Dwarf Goats Fed Trichoderma Treated <i>Jatropha curcas</i> Seed Cake.

Abstract

In a study of dietary effects of fungi (Trichoderma ghanense and Trichoderma asperellum) treatment on Jatropha curcas meal. Defatted Jatropha curcas cake was inoculated with the fungi and then used to replace soybean meal in a formulated diet for West African Dwarf goats. The fungi Trichoderma ghanense was included at 0%, 4%, 2% level in diets A, B, C, respectively and Trichoderma asperellum was included at 4%, 2% level in diets D and E respectively. The initial average weight of the goats was 7.00+ 1.00 kg. Water and feed were given ad-libitum for the entire duration of experiment. Fungi treatment considerably reduces crude fibre with increased ash content. There were marked decrease in weight as a result of poor feed intake and utilization. The fungus treatment did not completely detoxify the Jatropha curcas cake resulting in 100 percent death before the end of the experiment. There is the need to find better method of detoxifying the toxins and antinutrients present in Jatropha curcas cake without trading off the high crude protein content.

KEY WORDS: WAD goats, Phorbolesters, Jatropha curcas cake, Fungi.