Influence of supplemental cassava root sieviate -cassava leaf meal based diets on carcass and economics of production of West African dwarf goats

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the carcass yield, organ characteristics and economics of production of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed cassava root sieviate-cassava leaf meal (CRSCLM) based diets as supplement to Panicum maximum using 36 WAD goats of about 8 to 10 months of age. Four diets T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄, were formulated at the levels of 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% CRSCLM respectively, in a completely randomized design. Each animal received a designated treatment diet in the morning for 97 days. Feed offered was based on 3.5% body weight per day; the animals in addition were fed a kg wilted chopped Panicum maximum later in the day as basal diet to enhance rumination and chime chewing. Result on  carcass indices showed significant (p<0.05) influence on live weight at slaughter, empty carcass weight, warm carcass weight, dressing percentage, shoulder, leg, lion, end and shank with T₄ having relatively best results. The dressing percentage was numerically (49.59%) best at T₄. On the offal weights, head and full guts were significantly (p<0.05) improved for T₄ and T₁ goats. The organ characteristic proved the safety of using CRSCLM through the significantly (p<0.05) lower organ weights at T₄ goats. Cost per kg feed, feed cost/weight gain and cost/benefit ratio were positive influenced (p<0.05) at T₄ with expected income of ^4.79 per ^1 invested. It could therefore be concluded that WAD goats fed 60% CRSCLM had the best carcass and organ yields at a reduced feed cost.