Abstract 367

Ikhatua,-UJ; Adu,-IF

National Animal Production Research Inst., Ahmadu Bello Univ., Zaria, Nigeria.

Journal-of-Animal-Production-Research. 1984, 4: 2, 145-152; 15 ref.

For 56 days 24 Red Sokoto (Maradi) male goats, initial weight 17.6-17.9 kg, were given daily 1 kg Digitaria smutsii hay or groundnut haulms which contained, with digestibility in parentheses, DM 87.8 (68) and 85.3 (73), protein 5.7 (62) and 9.6 (68), fibre 30.6 and 19.4, fat 1.8 (63) and 1.1 (68) and nitrogen-free extract 42.5 (72) and 48.4 (77)%, respectively. Daily weight gains were 5.9 and 88 g, feed intake 494 and 603 g, feed efficiency 8.4 and 6.8, daily N retention 38 and 43 g/kg0.75, and apparent N digested 61.8 and 67.9%, all significantly better for groundnut haulms but feed costs/kg gain were 0.13 and 0.22 [unstated units]. In a 2nd study the bucks were given daily the 2 roughages 0.75 and concentrate 0.25 kg. The concentrate supplement increased feed intake and weight gain but did not affect N metabolism. It was concluded that groundnut haulm was the better roughage and had adequate protein to maintain ruminants.