Abstract 40

Reynolds,-L; Adediran,-SO

International Livestock Centre for Africa, Humid Zone Programme, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Goat production in the humid tropics. Proceedings of a workshop at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 20-24 July 1987 [edited by Smith, O.B.; Bosman, H.G.]. 1988, 83-91; 6 ref. Wageningen, Netherlands; Pudoc.

During gestation and until 12 weeks postpartum, 40 West African Dwarf ewes were fed on a basal diet of Panicum maximum ad libitum and sun-dried cassava peel 50 g/day with Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium (1:1, w/w) 0, 550, 1100, 2200 or 3300 g/day. After weaning, lambs were given the same diets as their dams in quantities adjusted to body weight. Diets containing L. leucocephala and G. sepium increased lamb growth rate to weaning and to 24 weeks old, and improved lamb survival rate. Total feed intake of ewes increased with level of supplementation, but intake of basal diet tended to decrease. Lambs born in the middle of the dry season grew more slowly to weaning than those born at the end of the dry season. Lambs weaned in the middle of the dry season grew more slowly from 12-24 weeks, than those weaned at the start of the rain.