Evaluation of Cassava Peel – Cassava Leaf Meal Based Diets for Milk Production by the West African Dwarf Goats in South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of cassava peel – cassava leaf meal based diets on the milk yield and composition of WAD goats. Four lactating WAD does were housed individually in pens and were assigned to the experimental diets in a 4x4 Latin Square Design Experiment and fed for 56days. Drinking water was offered liberally. Milk yield (MY) was measured and analyzed weekly for total solids (TS), butterfat (BF), crude protein (CP), solidsnotfat (SNF), lactose, ash and milk energy. MY, BF, CP, SNF, ash, milk energy, solids – correctedmilk yield (SCM) and fat – correctedmilk yield (FCM) did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the treatment groups. Total solids and lactose were significantly (P<0.05) different among treatment groups. The group on diet B (10% cassava leaf meal (CLM)) recorded the highest total solids percentage (12.81%) while the group on diet D (30% CLM) recorded the lowest. The group on diet B also recorded the highest lactose content (4.30) while the least was recorded for the group on diet D (4.18). The relationship between MY and various milk constituents indicated negative correlation between MY and TS, MY and BF, MY and SNF, MY and lactose. However, these correlations were not significant (P>0.05). Positive correlation existed between BF and TS, milk protein and TS, milk energy and TS, lactose and SNF, milk energy and BF, BF and milk protein. Milk protein and BF were highly significant (P<0.001) and positively correlated. Milk protein and SNF were negative and significantly correlation while a significant positive correlation existed between BF and milk protein. Diet D (30% CLM) which gave the highest MY, the lowest total solids and lactose percentage is recommended.