Mineral balance, nutrient intake and digestibility of West African dwarf (Wad) goats fed urea-mixed milled maize stover diets

Abstract

Twelve (12) male West African dwarf (WAD)goats with an average weight of 8.5 kg were monitored in a completely randomized design, to determine the nutrient intake, digestibility and mineral balance when fed urea-mixed milled maize stover (UMMS) diets in the dry season. Four dietsD1, D2, D3 and D4 containing 0, 3, 4.5 and 6% inclusion levels of urea respectively and 60% maize stovers each were fed to the goats during 14 weeks feeding experiment, for digestibility trials, weighed feed was fed each day for 7 days after an initial 14 day adaptation period, urine, faecal and diet samples were collected and analysed. Results showed that crude protein (CP) content of diets increased as the inclusion level of urea increases while voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) of all nutrients by bucks, decreased significantly (P<0.05) with the increase in dietary urea. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the apparent digestibility of crude fibre (CF) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) of diets but all other nutrients showed no significant variation (P>0.05) in digestibility. Mineral intake by bucks decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing level of dietary urea inclusion. The highest value of mineral retention was recorded for goats on diet D1. The inadequacy of some minerals in experimental diets may require supplementation when a urea-mixed milled maize stover (UMMS) diet is fed to goats during the dry season.