Growth performance and cost-benefits of feeding West African dwarf goats groundnut haulms and cowpea husk supplemented with brewers’ dried grains

Abstract

Nigeria is faced with perennial problem of inadequate quality and quantity of ruminant feed resources. This has resulted in the low productivity of these animals. The natural vegetation which forms the bulk of the primary feed resources is of low nutritive value especially during the dry season. Heavy losses are usually recorded among ruminant animals that depend on natural vegetation for their sustenance during this period.1 The use of conventional feedstuffs which can salvage the situation is rather unsustainable due to their high costs. Okoruwa, et al.2 reported that contemporary ruminant feeding development in Nigeria is now geared towards searching for inexpensive and readily available feed resources which can partially or wholly substitute the scarce expensive feedstuffs and inadequate forages.