Performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) Goats Fed Urea Treated Maize Offal as Supplement to Natural Herbage

Abstract

West African Dwarf (WAD) goats grazing natural herbage were supplemented with different levels of urea treated maize offal (UMO) to determine their performance. The maize offal were treated at 0% UMO, 4% UMO, 6% UMO and 8% UMO representing 0, 4, 6 and 8% of urea respectively. Naturally grazing twenty WAD bucks aged between 7 and 9 months weighing 8.7 ±1.5kg were randomly allocated to five supplementary diets (0% UMO, 4% UMO, 6% UMO and 8% UMO) in a completely randomized design lasting 84 days to determine the effect of the supplementation. Significant (P<0.05) mean weight gained of 5.30kg was recorded for goats on 4%UMO; Similarly, lowest (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio of 7.28 was obtained for 4%UMO and better benefit of N 3,170 per live weight gain was recorded for goats on the same 4% urea treatment. Though the different levels of urea treatment of maize offal recorded significant (P<0.05) increase in blood urea, they were below the toxic concentration level of 10mg per litre; and superior performance was recorded for WAD goats fed 4% of UMO supplement.