EFFECTS OF COTTON SEED CAKE SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE DRY SEASON PERFORMANCE OF WHITE BORN0 GOATS

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the influence of three levels of cotton seed Cake supplementation on voluntary intake, digestibility, and weight response of White Borno goats. The treatments imposed were, A: 50'% Panicum maximum +50%, Groundnut haulm (control), B: control +250g cotton seed cake (CSC) and C: contro1+500g CSU head/day. Data were analyses as a complete randomized design. There was a substitution effect between the basal and supplement intake across Treatments. Hay dry matter intake by animals on the control group was significantly higher than those supplemented. However, the values obtained from animals on Treatments B and C were comparable. Total voluntary intake tended to increase with increased levels of supplementation and was significantly different among Treatments (P<0.05). Crude protein intake, thoracic girth and weight gains were significantly improved in the supplemented groups, while treatment effects on the Values obtained for height at withers were not significant. Live-weight gain was Optimum at 250g CSC supplementation level. Both dry matter and crude fiber digestibility were significantly j better for supplemented groups? The evaluation of Animal weight gain across the treatments showed that there was no advantage in Feeding supplement like cotton seed cake above 250glhead/day when a mixture of Legume and grass hay formed the basalt ration.