Growth performance of Savanna brown goats fed enzyme treated sawdust diets under intensive managed system

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the growth performance and correlation matrix of Savanna Brown goats fed enzyme treated sawdust diets managed intensively. A total of thirty (30) goats weighting between 5.2 and 5.3 kg were arranged in a completely randomized design. The animals were divided into five dietary Treatments (T) groups with three replications. Treatment one (1) comprises of animals fed 0 % enzyme treated sawdust while Treatment 2 (T2), Treatment 3 (T3), Treatment 4 (T4) and Treatment 5 (T5) comprises of animals fed 10, 20, 30 and 40 % enzyme treated sawdust diets, respectively. Data on growth performance parameters, body linear measurement (height at wither, body length, chest girth, hind leg length, fore leg length, facial length) were measured. Growth performance data were analyzed using one way analysis of variance. The results of growth performance reveled that animals fed 20 % and 40 % had significantly highest value, these trend was observed in total weight gain (T3 = 4900g and T5 = 4833g), average weight gain (T3 = 50g and T5 = 49.32g), total fed intake (T3 = 2956.20 and T5 = 2709.30g) and average feed intake (T3 = 211.16g and T5 = 193.52g). However, in feed conversion ration no significant difference was observed across all the treatment groups as the value range between 3.87 in animals fed 40 % to 7.12 in those fed 10 % enzyme treated sawdust diet. A positive and significant correlation was observed between body weight and chest girth with highest correlations in animals fed 20 % enzyme treated sawdust (0.97). It was therefore concluded that enzyme treated sawdust can be used in the diets of Savanna Brown gate up to 40 % replacement for maize offal for optimum performance.