Influence of differently processed mango seed kernel meal on performance response of west African dwarf goats fed spear grass based diet

Abstract

Twenty four growing goats balanced for weight 8.00 ± 0.45kg were fed spear grass based diet with differently processed mango seed kernel meal supplement to assess growth, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization. Goats were assigned to four dietary treatments with six goats per treatment in a completely randomised design. The four compared experimental diets were; T_A (contained 65% spear grass with 35% concentrate diet that served as the control group) T_B (comprised spear grass and raw mango seed kernel meal with concentrate diet in a ratio of 35:30:35), T_C (constituted spear grass and soaked mango seed kernel meal with concentrate diet in a ratio of 35:30:35) and T_D( consisted spear grass and parboiled mango seed kernel meal with concentrate diet in a ratio of 35:30:35). Results obtained showed that T_A was significantly (P < 0.05) best in digestibility of ash (62.01%) compared with other treatment diets. Feed conversion ratio (3.35), digestibility of ether extract (67.03%) and nitrogen in faeces (4.97g/day) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T_B, while T_C was significantly (P<0.05) higher in crude fibre digestibility (71.23kg). Final body weight gain (14.06kg), total weight gain (5.46kg), average weight gain (65.00g), total feed intake (10.97kg), average daily feed intake (130.60g), digestibility in dry matter (70.41%) with crude protein (81.07%), nitrogen intake (14.00g/day), nitrogen absorb (11.35g/day), nitrogen retain (10.36g/day), nitrogen absorb and retain as percentage of nitrogen intake (8.07 and 94.00g/day) were higher in T_D and significantly (P<0.05) different from other treatment diets. Significant difference (P > 0.05) did not occur in initial body weight and nitrogen in urine among treatment diets. It was concluded that the combination of spear grass and parboiled mango seed kernel meal with concentrate diet in a ratio of 35:30:35(T_D) has the potential to improve growth, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization for goats.

Keywords: Mango seed kernel, spear grass, performance and goats