Studies on Comparative Utilization of Urea and Groundnut Cake Rations by Young Growing West African Dwarf Goats

Abstract

TWELVE West African Dwarf castrated goats, 6-8 months old, ranging in live-weight from 7 to 15 kg, were maintained on cassava flour-based rations with two sources of nitrogen from urea and roundnut cake. Each nitrogen source was fed to the goats at three levels of crude protein viz., 10, 17 and 24 These rations constituted the concentrate fraction as supplements to Cynodon nlemfensis. Six of the goats were slaughtered at the end of about three months on the dietary treatments, and the other six animals three months later; the overall experiment lasted for six months. It was found that the dressing-out percentage (51.2) on the groundnut cake - based supplement was not significantly higher than that of animals on the urea ration (50.0). 'The two sources of nitrogen had no effect on the major cuts, such as the thigh, loin, shoulders and also the protein contents of the organs and muscles.