WATER INTAKE, PERFORMANCE AND BIOECONOMICS OF RED SOKOTO GOATS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF YAM(Dioscorea Spp) PEELS AS SUPPLEMENT TO SHEA BUTTER(Vitellaria Paradoxa) LEAVES

Abstract

The study investigated water intake performance and feed bioeconomics of Red Sokoto bucks fed a diet containing a graded level of yam peel meal (YPM) and shea butter leaves. The experiment was carried out at the Small Ruminant Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria. Sixteen red Sokoto bucks with an initial weight range of 9-10kg were allocated into four treatments of four bucks each. The bucks were fed concentrate diets containing yam peel meal (YPM) and Shea butter leaves. Concentrate diets at 250g/goat/day and Shea butter leaves at 500g/goat/day for treatment one, two, three and four, respectively. for a duration of fifty days. Water was served ad libitum. The experimental design was completely randomised. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. The results from growth Performance revealed that final live weight gain (FWG), Total weight gain (TWG), Daily weight gain (DWG), Total Forage intake (TFI), Daily forage intake (DFI), Total feed Intake (TFI) and Daily feed Intake (DFI) were significantly different (P<0.05) in treatment one as compared to other treatments. Bio-economic analysis, as observed from the result in the combination of yam peel meal and Shea butter leaves in the diet of red Sokoto bucks, resulted in a positive and net benefit returns of ₦21,000 and ₦17,500 as compared to treatment three (T3) and treatment four (T4). Water intake parameters (total water intake, daily water intake, water intake/dry matter, and water intake/live weight) differed significantly (p < 0.05) across treatments, with the highest intake observed in T3 (10% YPM). The study concludes that inclusion of YPM can support growth, enhance water intake at reduced feed cost in Red Sokoto bucks.. It is recommended that YPM be included at approximately 10% in goat diets, with adequate provision of water to optimise productivity.