GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF Leucaena leucocephala LEAF MEAL AS SUPPLEMENT TO CRAB GRASS (Digitata horizontalis)

Abstract

The study was Carried out to Evaluate the Nutritional Potentials of Sun Dried Leucaena leucocephala Leaves in the Diets of Growing Red Sokoto Bucks. Sixteen (16) Growing Red Sokoto Bucks averagely 8–9Months of age with an average Weight of 10-11 kg ± 0.5 were used for the Study. Four Treatment Diets (0%, 5%, 10% and 15% Leucaena leucocephala) were Formulated, Designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The Experimental Bucks were weighted at the Beginning of the Experiment and Weekly Thereafter and Feed Intake Recorded Daily. The Experiment was a Complete Randomized Designed (CRD) Experiment. The experiment lasted for a Period of sixty three (63) days after an adjustment period of fourteen (14) days. The data Collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance. The result revealed a Significant (p<0.05)Total Weight Gain was significantly (p<0.05) Higher in Bucks Fed Treatment 4 (2.26kg). Higher Total Feed Intake (824.50g) (818.23g) in Bucks fed Treatments T1 and T2 respectively with the Lowest (803.75g) in Treatment 4. Better Feed Utilization was recorded in experimental bucks fed T4 with 0.35.The study concludes that Leucaena leucocephala leaves can be included in the supplement of Red Sokoto Bucks fed a basal diet of Digiteria horizantalis at up to 15% without any detrimental effect on the growth Performance of the Animals. Further Research should be conducted to check the effects of Inclusion of Leucaena leucocephala leaves on the Milk Yield and Composition of Red Sokoto Goats.