Effect of Low-Cost Supplemental Feeding Practices on Pre-Weaning Weight Gain of Goat Kids in Tafa LGA Nigeria

Sikiru A.B^1*, and Makinde O.J.²

¹Department of Animal Production Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.

²Department of Animal Science Federal University, Gashua, Nigeria.

Accepted February 12, 2018

An earlier study on feed resources utilization by agro-pastoralists in the study area revealed unexplored use of crop residues and by-products as feed resources for livestock consumption. Therefore this study was conducted using rural participatory approach in the study area to investigate goat production levels and influence of low cost post-partum supplemental feeding of goat dam on pre-weaning growth and weaning weight of goat kids. An assessment of goat production among agro-pastoralists in the area was conducted, followed by an experimental supplement feeding trial. In the trial, eighteen (18) goat dams and thirty six (36) goat kids were used. The first group (T1) was 6 twin kids from 6 goat dams on extensive grazing without supplemental feeds, the second group (T2) was 6 twin kids from 6 goat dams fed prepared supplement concentrate diets in addition to extensive grazing while the third group (T3) was 6 twin kids from 6 goat dams fed cowpea haulms and millet straw as basal diet and prepared supplement concentrate in addition to extensive grazing. Birth weights for T1, T2 and T3 were 2.05 kg, 1.85 kg and 2.10 kg respectively. Supplemental feeding with crop residue and by-products in the study area significant (P<0.05) for weaning weight and daily weight gain of the goat kids. The weaning weights for T1, T2 and T3 were 5.05 kg, 7.16 kg and 7.38 kg respectively while average daily gain was 25.00 gday^-1, 44.25 gday^-1 and 44.00gday^-1 for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The study suggested that improved pre-weaning kid performance was achievable using supplement diets produced from locally available crop residue and by-products as diets for goat dam post-partum in the study area. The study also suggested that the use of supplemental diets was capable of producing goats with higher yearling weights and early attainment of reproductive weight hence it recommended full scale evaluation of yearling and reproductive performances of goat kids with superior performance at weaning in response to the supplemental nutrition for their dams.

Key words: Effects, Crop residue, By-products, Goat Kids, Weaning.

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