Mortality in savanna Brown Does fed flamboyant tree seed meal as replacement for ground nut cake

Abstract

Ffteen (15) savanna brown does aged between 6 and 8 months with mean initial body weight of 9.55kg were used in this study which lasted for 20 weeks. The study was designed to investigate the antinutritional factors present in flamboyant tree seed and mortality rate among does fed varying levels of inclusion of flamboyant tree seed meal (FTSM) as replacement for ground nut cake (GNC). The does were allowed a pre -treatment period of two weeks to enable them acclatize following which they were randomly assigned into five groups comprising of three animals each. The groups were designated T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. Does in T1 which serve as control had 0% FTSM in their diet while those in T2,T3 and T5 had 25%, 50 %, 75% andv100% FTSM inclusion.The does were allowed to graze between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm daily and had access to water and salt lick ad-libitum. Prophylactic treatment was also administered against helminthes and other parasites . Data collected were subjeted to descriptive statitics using percentages. Does in T5 (100% inclusion in their diet) recorded the highest mortality rate (100%) .T3 and T4 recorded the highest mortality, respectively while T2 and T1(control) did not record any mortality (0%).The result showed that as the level of FTSM increase in the diet, mortality also increased. It is therefore recommended that in order to forestall mortality among semi- intensively managed savanna brown does ,not more than 25 %FTSM should be included in their diet.