Varying Dietary Combinations of Leucaena leucocephala Leaf Meal, Peels of Dioscorea, Husks of Arachis hypogea, and Theobroma cacao Seed Shells in the Dry Season Feeding of Sheep and Goats

Abstract

Feeds compounded in various proportions from the peels of Dioscorea &p husks of Arachis hypogea Theobroma Cacao seed shells and Leucaena leucophala were evaluated for efficacy as dry season feeds for sheep and goats. Sixteen animals compromising eight bucks and eight rams were utilized to access the feeds in terms of DM intake, DM and nutrients gains. The DM INTAKE WAS 3.94 TO 4.94% OF BODY WIGHT, N-retention was 17.70 to 22.23 g/d equivalent of 2.14 to 2.45 (g/d W kg). the digestibility’s to the DM and the nutrients for all the feeds were of the order of 90% and above. The crude fibre had the lowest digestibility of 90.49%. weight gains were between 125 and 160 g/d. the feeds were well accepted as indicated by the dry matter intake rates. It is suggested that the nitrogenous components of the feeds were suitable to the nutrition of the sheep and goats. The feed nutrients were highly digestible. It is concluded that the feeds would effectively support the sheep and goats with appreciable weight gains in the season.