Performance and linear body measurements of Red Sokoto male goats on replacement levels of corn cobs for maize bran with cowpea husk basal diet

Abstract

Twenty four (24) Red Sokoto bucks with average age of 12 months and weight of 12 kg were randomly allocated to six (6) treatments with four (4) animals each in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The animals in treatment T1 were given 90% maize bran combined with 10% cotton seed cake. Treatments T2 to T6 were fed concentrates consisting of raw corn cobs replacing maize bran at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%, respectively. All groups had 10% cotton seed cake, while cowpea husk was fed to all animals ad libitum as basal diet. Clean water was provided to the animals ad libitum. After adjustment period of 14 days, parameters determined were feed intake, daily weight changes, fecal outputs, urinary outputs, linear body measurements such as height at withers, height at rump, girth circumference, abdominal circumference, animal length, neck circumference and neck length for a period of 84 days. Fecal output and urine were analyzed for proximate composition using standard procedures. Data obtained were subjected to analyses of variance (ANOVA), multiple correlations and regression. Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to separate the means where significant differences occurred. Results showed no significant (P > 0.05) differences in dry matter intake, weight gained and feed conversion ratio with up to 20% corn cob inclusion in the diet (T2 and T3). However, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in daily weight gain for treatments T4 to T6. All the body dimensions had positive correlations with live weights. Regression results showed R2-value of 14% and F-ratio of 6.502 which are significant (P < 0.05). It was found that best level of corn cob inclusion in the diet is 20%. However, it could still replace the bran at up to 50% level with much improvement in live weight gain and linear dimensions.

Keywords: Performance, linear measurements, replacement levels, basal diets, Red Sokoto goats.