ORGAN WEIGHTS AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF RED SOKOTO GOATS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF CASSAVA PEELS MEAL AS SUPPLEMENT TO NEEM LEAVES

Abstract

The study evaluated the organ weights and carcass characteristics of red sokoto goats fed diets containing graded level of cassava peel meal as supplement to neem leaves .Sixteen (16) Red Sokoto bucks aged about 8 – 9 months old were allocated into four (4) treatment of four (4) bucks each. The buck were fed neem leaves at 300g/buck/day and a concentrate supplement diet at 250g per buck/day for a duration of fifty (50) days, water was served ad li bitum, feed intake was monitored and recorded. The experimental design was a complete randomized design, data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference to separate the significant means using SAS, 9.04 2009 statistical package. Concentrate and neen leaves samples were analyzed for their proximate composition using the method of AOAC(2000). All the performance parameters examined showed significant (P<0.05) differences. The values for daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion, ranged from 50.83-60.26g, 4.00 -15.00g and 0.005 – 0.25 respectively. All the by-product weight determined was significantly (P<0.05) difference. The weight of the legs, belly fat and empty gut ranged from 350-500g, 0.00-13.75g and 775-1200g respectively. It was concluded that cassava peels meal in concentrate diets for Red Sokoto goats had no adverse effect on the performance of red sokoto goats at 10% level of inclusion. Inclusion of cassava peel meal at graded levels in supplement diets for Red sokoto goats significanttly (P<0.05) lnfluenced the weights of the by-products, whole sale cuts and carcass yield , but the weights of the organs were not influenced It was recommended that cassava peels meal can be used in supplement diets for Red Sokoto goats Further research using other classes and breeds of goat as well as species of ruminants was also recommended.