ASSESSING THE FEED PREFERENCE AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF ORANGE (Citrus sinensis) AND WATERMELON (Citrullus lanatus) PEELS BASED WAFERS FOR SHEEP AND GOAT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study evaluated the feed preference, acceptability, and proximate composition of orange and watermelon peel-based wafer diets in sheep and goats in Nigeria. Dried orange and watermelon peels were formulated with maize, soybean, starch, molasses, urea, potassium, and salt to produce wafer feeds. A total of 1000 g of each wafer type was offered separately to experimental animals for 15 minutes daily over a 7-day period, and intake was determined by difference. Results showed that orange peel wafers were more preferred than watermelon peel wafers, with mean intakes of 830 g and 524 g, respectively. Proximate analysis revealed higher crude protein in orange peel wafers (9.85%) compared to watermelon peel wafers (4.63%). However, both diets contained crude protein levels below the recommended requirement for growing ruminants, indicating the need for supplementation. The study concludes that both orange and watermelon peel-based wafers are acceptable to sheep and goats and have potential as alternative feed resources. Their utilization can reduce feed costs and minimize environmental waste. Further research should focus on incorporating other agro-industrial by-products and evaluating long-term animal performance. It is recommended that farmers in Nigeria should consider incorporating these orange and watermelon peels-based wafers in to the diets of their sheep and goat, especially during the period feeds scarcity or when seeking cost-effective feeds options. Further should focus on optimizing the proportion of orange and watermelon peels, as well as incorporating other locally available feeds ingredients and by-product to enhanced the nutritional profile (particularly protein and energy contents) and overall palatability of the wafers.