Feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization of graded levels of moringa and bamboo leaves by West African Dwarf Goats.

Abstract

Feed intake, nutrient digesti==bility and nitrogen utilization studies were carried out on Moringa oleifera (M) and Oxytenanthera abysinnica (bamboo) (B) leaves as follows; 100M, 75M:25B, 50M:50B 25M:75B and 100B, with 20 WAD goats, using a randomized complete block design. Moringa inclusion at all levels significantly (P 0.05) differences in DM, OM and NFE digestibilities at the three Moringa inclusion levels. CP digestibility was significantly (P 0.05) difference observed between 100M and 75M:25B. The nitrogen that was lost in the urine relative to total nitrogen intake decreased significantly (P Key words : Moringa, bamboo, West African Dwarf goats, feed intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization.