This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dried poultry dropping based diets on the dry matter intake, live weight changes and nutrient digestibility of Konkan Kanyal goats. Thirty Konkan Kanyal goats aged between 9-12 months weighing 13.12-14.00 Kg were used in a randomized block design (RBD) experiment. The experimental goats were randomly assigned to five treatments (TI-T5). T1 were goats fed with 0 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD), T2 were fed with 20 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD), T3 were fed with 40 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD), T4 were fed with 60 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD), T5 were fed with 80 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD). Mean dry matter intake was higher in treatment groups supplemented with dried poultry droppings based diet T2, (572.99±18.12), T3,( 614.09±27.76), T4,( 605.37±32.79), T5,( 619.24±9.15) compared to the control treatment group T1, (571.47±28.86), The final live body weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T5 (19.4±1.27) than T1 (14.72±1.02),T2 (15.45±0.88),T3 (16.03±0.48) and slightly higher than T4 (18.28±1.19). Similarly in feed conversion efficiency T5 (9.0±0.28) and (8.34±0.44) T4 performed significantly (P<0.05) better compared to other treatment group T3 (3.53±0.29) T2 (2.88±0.48) and T1 (2.89±0.34). However, for nutrient digestibility treatment group supplemented with 40 % DPDBD (T3) was at par with (T1) control treatment group for all the parameters measured. The results of this study suggests that feeding of dried poultry droppings based diets up to 80 % to Konkan Kanyal goats consuming finger millet straw as basal diet would give satisfactorily performance
Keywords: Dried poultry droppings; finger millet straw; Konkan Kanyal goats
1. Introduction
Feed represents the largest single expense input for livestock production. Livestock producers look for low-cost feed alternatives, especially when conventional feeds are expensive. Many of these alternative feed are by-products and waste products from the processing of various food and fibre crops, or crop residues, tree leaves, farm animal wastes etc. These alternatives feed can fit into a feeding program as the protein supplement, energy, roughage sources, as a replacement for part of the ration (Prasad and Rao, 2013).
There is a need to explore the possibility of utilizing novel feed stuffs, agricultural crop residues, and agro-industrial by-products as complete ration in intensive feeding system to overcome the feed scarcity and to economize the production (Sudheer Babu et al., 2013). One of such usable crop residues as ruminant animal feed is Finger millet straw. Finger millet straw (FMS) consists of dry stems and leaves.FMS is the by-product obtained after harvesting the crop and can be used as ruminant feed as source of roughage (Malisetty et al., 2013). The straw is available after harvesting and threshing of the grains for human consumption. FMS is considered to have higher nutritive value than slender straw such as from rice and wheat (Subba Rao, et al., 1995)
Finger millet straws are coarse, high-fibre, low-protein and low-digestibility roughages, they play an important role as filler and have some value as a energy source for feeding ruminant animals provided they are adequately supplemented ( Heuze,2013). FMS just like other cereal straws is highly fibrous (NDF more than 70% DM) and even poorer in protein than the fresh forage (about 5% DM). Its nutritive value can be improved by ammonia and urea treatment (Deshmukh et al., 1995, Ramachandra, 1997). Since FMS is of poor nutritive value it must therefore be supplemented with nitrogen and energy sources to meet maintenance and or production requirements (Heuze, 2015).
Finger millet straw is readily available especially during the dry season, after the year’s harvest, cheaper to cure and store, hence it can be fed to ruminant animals as a basal feed. Above all, it may offer reductions in feed costs and therefore has a great impact on the total cost of livestock production.
Poultry litter is a significant by-product of poultry production, which is a mixture of poultry excreta, bedding material, feathers, spilled feed, etc. Poultry litter is high in crude protein, ranging from 15 to 35% of dry matter. Thus, poultry litter can serve as a source of nitrogen in ruminant diets and the potentially digestible nitrogenous compounds in the litter are very soluble and are rapidly degraded to ammonia in the rumen. Moreover, poultry litter is characterized by high ash content and could be an excellent source of essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulphur and copper, thereby lessening the need for mineral supplementation (Goetsch and Aiken, 2000). Additionally, poultry litter could play a significant role in replacing protein concentrates in goat feeding in areas where large-scale poultry production is practiced. They are readily available and comparatively cheaper than conventional feedstuff such as groundnut cake, soybean cake or cottonseed cake which is customarily used in ruminant ration as a major protein supplement. In view of the above, this study therefore seek to determine the impacts of feeding dried poultry dropping based diet as supplement on dry matter intake, live weight changes, nutrient digestibility in Konkan Kanyal goats fed a basal diet of finger millet straw.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Experimental site
The trials were conducted at the Institutional livestock farm, goat unit, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.
2.2 Climatic and weather conditions
The Institutional livestock farm, goat unit of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science farm, College of Agriculture, Dapoli is located at 280 meters above mean sea level (MSL) and in the subtropical region at 17045′ North latitude and 13012′ East longitude. The area is characterized by hilly terrain. The soil is lateritic and acidic in nature. The soil is low in fertility, having poor water holding capacity. The climate is warm and humid with 3500 mm average annual rainfall. The maximum temperature at Dapoli is about 33.40C in summer and 21.10C in winter while, relative humidity ranges from 55 to 96 per cent.
2.3 Experimental animals
Thirty Konkan Kanyal goats aged 9-12 months and with average weight of 13.66 kg were used for this study. The goats were randomly assigned to five treatments designated T1-T5 comprising of three replicates with two animals per replicate. The animals were kept in individual pens. The animals were treated against ectoparasites, dewormed against endoparasites and were administered with broad antibiotic to prevent bacterial infections. Thereafter the animals were randomly assigned into five experimental groups and fed for three weeks for acclimatization to the experimental diets before data collection. Clean fresh water was offered daily throughout the duration of the trial. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. The animals were raised in individual compartment under confinement.
2.4 Treatments
T1- Finger millet straw + 0 % dried poultry droppings + 100 % Concentrates
T2- Finger millet straw + 20 % dried poultry droppings concentrate based diet
T3- Finger millet straw + 40 % dried poultry droppings concentrate based diet
T4- Finger millet straw + 60 % dried poultry droppings concentrate based diet
T5- Finger millet straw + 80 % dried poultry droppings concentrate based diet
2.5 Experimental feeds
Three experimental diets were used for the study, Finger millet straw, green fodder as basal diets and supplementary diets. Five supplementary diets were prepared. The supplements consist of the following; 100 % Concentrate, 20 % dried poultry droppings concentrate based diet, 40 % dried poultry droppings concentrate based diet, 60 % dried poultry droppings concentrate based diet 80 % dried poultry droppings concentrate based diet. The compositions of the experimental diet are presented in Table 2 and 3
2.6 Experimental Design
The experimental design used was the Randomized block design (RBD). Thirty Konkan Kanyal goats aged 9-12 months with average weight of 13.66 kg were used for this study. The goats were randomly assigned to five treatments designated T1-T5 comprising of three replicates with two animals per replicate.
3. Management of the experimental animals
3.1 Feeding trial
The experimental animals were fed at 3% of their body weight (BW). One-thirds (1/3) were fed as green feed, two-thirds (2/3) were fed as dry feeds while at of out this dry feed two-thirds (2/3) were fed as dry roughages and one-thirds (1/3) were fed as concentrates. The level of inclusion of dried poultry dropping in the treatments are T1 0%, T2 20%, T3 40%, T4 60% and T5 80%. Chopped Finger millet straw (2cm long) was offered to the animals as basal diets. The goats were fed in individual pens.
All the animals were weighed at the start of the experiment, subsequently, weekly. An adaptation period of 21 days was allowed before data was collected for 90 days. The animals were dewormed, dipped against ectoparasites and dosed with antibiotics as prophylaxis prior to the commencement of the experiment. Fresh clean water was offered throughout the duration of the trial.
3.2 Feed Preparation
Finger millet straw was chopped using chopping machine to 2 – 3cm long before feeding as basal feed. The poultry manure was sun-dried for 3-5 days to minimize the level of microbes present. The product was thereafter milled using milling machine and was used for formulating the concentrate diet.
3.3 Metabolic trial
Three animals were randomly selected from each treatment at the termination of the growth study. They were placed in an individual metabolic cage with slatted floors adapted for faecal and urine collection. Experimental diets fed were the same as those used in the growth study. An adjustment period of 5 days was allowed before the faecal and urine outputs were measured for the subsequent seven days. Urine production was collected daily into a graduated plastic container containing 100 ml of 50 % Hydrochloric Acid (HCl). A 10 % aliquot of total urine output per day was removed each day and stored until required for analysis. Faeces from animals on each treatment were bulked thoroughly mixed and sub- sampled taken. Feed intake was measured by finding the difference between the amount of feed offered and the amount refused. Feed and faecal samples were dried at 65oC to constant weight, milled and kept in air tight containers until required for analysis. Nitrogen content of feed; faeces and urine were determined by the Kjeldahl method (AOAC, 1995). Apparent digestibility of the diets was calculated as the difference between nutrient intake and excretion in the faeces expressed as a percentage of the nutrient intake (Maynard, et al., 1979; Marshal, 2001 and Aduku, 2004). Nitrogen retained by the animals was calculated as the difference between nitrogen intake and nitrogen excreted, N retained = N intake – (Faecal N + Urinary N) (Sebata et al., 2005; Olorunnisomo, 2010).
3.4 Analysis of feeds and fodder
The samples of the experimental feed, feed ingredients and faeces were analyzed for the proximate principles viz., Dry matter, Crude protein, Crude fibre, Ether extract, Nitrogen free extract, Total ash and Acid insoluble ash (AOAC, 1995). The Nitrogen, Calcium and Phosphorus content in the urine were analyzed (AOAC, 1995)
3.5 Statistical Analysis
All data generated were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS (2008). Means were separated using least significant difference (LSD) test of the same package.
4. Results and Discussion
The chemical constituents of the experimental feeds and supplemental diets and the results obtained were presented in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively.
The dry matter content of finger millet straw was 86.67 per cent. The values of DM reported by Feedipedia (2015) was 93.40 per cent, Ayenew et al. (2012) 92.5 per cent and Gelaye et al. (1997) 91.2 per cent, Terrill et al. (1998) 90.7 per cent in pearl millet straw, respectively were higher than the present findings.
The CP content of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw investigated in the present study was 5.35 per cent. The value was observed to be higher than the findings obtained by Gelaye et al. (1997) in pearl millet straw as 2.79 per cent. The comparable value of crude protein was reported by Feedipedia (2015) in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw as 5.0 per cent. The higher value of crude protein was reported by Terrill et al. (1998) as 14.4 per cent in pearl millet straw and Pal et al. (2000) as 6.19 per cent in finger millet straw, respectively. The lower value of the crude protein (CP) of the finger millet straw justifies the need for supplementation.
The ether extract content in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw was 0.86 per cent. The present findings of ether extract was lower than the values reported by Terrill et al. (1998) as 1.96 percent in pearl millet straw but higher than the value reported by Pal et al. (2000) as 0.72 per cent in finger millet straw. Comparable value was however reported by Feedipedia (2015) as 0.8 per cent in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw.
The crude fibre content of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw was 33.72 per cent. The present investigation was close to the result reported by Feedipedia (2015) in finger millet straw (Eleusine coracana) as 36.5 per cent. However the present result is higher than the result reported by Pal et al. (2000) in finger millet straw (Eleusine coracana) as 27.48 per cent.
Nitrogen free extract (NFE) content of Finger millet straw in the present investigation was observed to be 48.19 per cent. The value was lower than the result reported by Pal et al. (2000) as 50.01 per cent in untreated finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw.
The value of total ash in finger millet straw in the present study was found to be 11.88 per cent. The value is lower than the values reported by Modiakgotla and Madibela (2004), Pal et al. (2000), Melese et al. (2014) in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw as 16.9,15.60,12 per cent, respectively. However the value is higher than the values reported by Weldegerima (2015), Ayenew et al. (2012) as 5.8, 7.9 per cent, respectively. The lower value of total Ash in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw was reported by Gelaye et al. (1997) as 0.78 per cent.
The value of calcium present in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw in the present study was 0.10 per cent. This result was close to the value reported by Gelaye et al. (1997) as 0.11 per cent. However the result was lower than the values reported by Modiakgotla and Madibela (2004) as 0.88 per cent and Pal et al. (2000) in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw as 0.94 per cent.
Phosphorus value in the finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw in the present study was observed to be 0.08 per cent. The result was in agreement with the value reported by Gelaye et al. (1997) in pearl millet straw as 0.08 per cent. However this result was lower than the values reported by Weldegerima (2015) as 0.33 per cent in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw and Terrill et al. (1998) in pearl millet straw (Pennisetum glaucum L.) as 0.33 per cent. But the present finding was higher than the value reported by Modiakgotla and Madibela (2004) as 0.03 per cent in finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw.
In the present study the dry matter content in poultry dropping was found to be 98.25 per cent. The value observed was higher than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013), Ukanwoko and Ibeawuchi (2009), Aro and Tewe (2007), and Owen et al. (2008) respectively as 93.00, 93.00, 89.29 and 87.00 per cent. However comparable result was reported by Onimisi and Omage (2006) as 97.50 per cent.
The crude protein content of poultry dropping in the present study was observed to be 29.86 per cent. The present value was higher than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013), Ukanwoko and Ibeawuchi (2009), Owen et al. (2008), Aro and Tewe (2007) and Onimisi and Omage (2006) respectively as 21.88, 26.60, 20.00, 21.67, and 20.30 per cent. However, this value is lower than the value reported by Trevino et al. (2002) as 31.6% and Ghaly and MacDonald (2012) as 39-43%, respectively. The variations in the crude protein values of the poultry droppings could be attributed to the drying temperature used as was reported by Ghaly and MacDonald (2012) as well as the type of bird, age of manure and level of feeding the birds
The ether extract content of poultry dropping in the present study was found to be 1.43 per cent. The present value was however lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013), Ukanwoko and Ibeawuchi (2009), Owen et al. (2008), Aro and Tewe (2007) and Onimisi and Omage (2006) respectively as 3.30, 3.10, 2.20, 2.41 and 2.50 per cent.
The crude fibre content of poultry dropping in the present study was observed to be 2.80 per cent. The present value was however lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013), Ukanwoko and Ibeawuchi (2009), Owen et al. (2008), Aro and Tewe (2007) and Onimisi and Omage (2006) respectively as 20.67, 16.50, 10.40, 11.59 and 19.20 per cent
In the present study the nitrogen free extract was found to be 53.54 per cent. The present value was higher than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013), Ukanwoko and Ibeawuchi (2009), Saleh et al. (2002), Aro and Tewe (2007) and Onimisi and Omage (2006) respectively as 14.15, 25.10, 42.60- 45.00, 40.50 and 40.50 per cent.
The value of total ash in poultry dropping in the present study was observed to be 12.46 per cent. The present value was however lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013), Ukanwoko and Ibeawuchi (2009), Owen et al. (2008), Aro and Tewe (2007) and Onimisi and Omage (2006) respectively as 33.00, 27.00, 18.50, 23.83 and 17.50 per cent.
The calcium present in poultry dropping in the present study was found to be 2.19 per cent. The present value was higher than the value reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) as 0.07 per cent and was lower than the value reported by Ogundipe (2002) as 6.13 per cent.
The phosphorus present in poultry dropping in the present study was observed to be 0.16 per cent. The present value was however lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) and Ogundipe (2002) respectively as 0.54 and 2.53 per cent.
In the present study the dry matter content in supplemental diets were 91.53, 91.16, 91.90, 91.32 and 91.58 respectively. The highest value was observed for T3 as 91.90 per cent and the lowest as was recorded for T2 as 91.16 per cent. The present values reported were numerically and slightly higher than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) as 84.20, 88.60, 85.80, 92.80 and 92.80 per cent.
The crude protein content in supplemental diets in the present study was 13.34, 14.05, 14.25, 13.71 and 14.39 respectively. The highest value was observed for T5 as 14.39 per cent and the lowest as was recorded for T1 as 13.34 per cent. The present values reported were comparable with the result reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) as 13.13, 13.60, 14.00, and 15.40 per cent except in T1 which has the lowest value of 7.00 per cent.
The ether extract content in supplemental diets in the present study was 4.34, 4.56, 4.61, 4.40 and 4.39 respectively. The highest value was observed for T3 as 4.39 per cent and the lowest was recorded for T1 as 4.34 per cent. The present value was however lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) as 5.00, 20.00, 12.50, 12.50 and 17.50 per cent.
The crude fibre content in supplemental diets in the present study was 3.30, 3.50, 3.23, 3.40 and 3.31 respectively. The highest value was observed for T2 as 3.50 per cent and the lowest was recorded for T3 as 3.23 per cent. The present value was however lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) as 6.70, 9.30, 12.50, 8.00 per cent per cent. However T1 (3.20) value was lower than the present value reported.
The nitrogen free extract content in supplemental diets in the present study was 68.34, 67.39, 67.02, 67.69 and 67.24 respectively. The highest value was observed for T1 as 68.34 per cent and the lowest was recorded for T3 as 67.02 per cent. However the values reported in the present study was higher than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) as 63.50, 36.77, 44.30, 30.30 and 26.90 per cent.
The total ash content in supplemental diets in the present study was 10.68, 10.50, 10.89, 10.80 and 10.67 respectively. The highest value was observed for T3 as 10.89 per cent and the lowest was recorded for T2 as 10.50 per cent. The present value was however lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) as 12.00, 12.50, 16.50, 25.00 per cent. However T1 (5.50) value was lower than the present value reported.
The calcium present in the supplemental diets in the present study was 0.92, 1.00, 0.95, 0.97 and 0.97 respectively. The highest value was observed for T2 as 1.00 per cent and the lowest was recorded for T1 as 0.92 per cent.
The Phosphorus present in the supplemental diets in the present study was 0.68, 0.78, 0.78, 0.84 and 0.85 respectively. The highest value was observed for T5 as 0.85 per cent and the lowest as was recorded for T1 as 0.68 per cent.
Dry matter intake by experimental goats
In the present study, average daily dry matter intake was observed to be 571.47±28.86g/day in treatment T1, 572.99±18.12 g/day in treatment T2, 614.09±27.76 g/day in treatment T3, 605.37±32.79g/day in treatment T4 and 619.24±9.15 g/day in treatment T5. Statistically, there were no significant differences between Treatment T1 and T2 and between T3 and T5. The daily dry matter intake (g/day) was however higher in values (619.24±9.15 g/day) in treatment T5 compared to the other treatment groups. Daily dry intake showed that, treatment groups supplemented with poultry droppings had higher values for dry matter intake as compared to the treatment group not supplemented. This present findings is in agreement with Almaz et al. (2012) in their study with lambs fed finger millet straw supplemented with Atella, Noug seed cake and their mixtures, where they reported that supplementation of concentrate to finger millet straw increase the intake of DM and CP of the total feed. The highest intake was observed in supplemented treatment group (T5), Gashu et al. (2014) in their study with on effect of supplementation on feed intake and body weight changes of Washera sheep fed urea treated finger millet straw. The authors reported that supplementation of the basal diet increase significantly (P<0.05) the intake of total DM and CP when compared to control, Bello and Tsado (2013) in their study on feed intake and nutrient digestibility of growing Yankasa rams fed sorghum stover supplemented with graded level of dried Poultry based diet, observed that the mean feed intake obtained from their study indicates that animals in T1 had lower feed intake (808.80 g day-1). Animals fed sorghum Stover supplemented with dried poultry droppings had higher feed intake (1028.09 to 1661.12 g day-1) compared to the control group (808.80 g day-1). Similarly Mubi et al. (2008) in their trial with growing heifer fed sorghum Stover supplemented with poultry litter where they observed, there was significant increase in feed intake of the groups supplemented. The present value observed was lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) (1028.09 to 1661.12 g day-1) and (808.80 g day-1), But higher than the values reported by Ukanwoko and Ibeawuchi (2009) (310.03, 291.55, 305.89 and 313.42). Yousuf et al. (2013), 351.17, 507.06, 536.88 and 356.72.
It was also observed that average daily dry matter intake per kg metabolic body weight (W0.75) were 84.49±5.83, 81.02±4.68, 85.09±2.79, 87.16±3.44 and 89.52±8.01in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. This result was higher than the findings of Ukanwoko and Ibeawuchi (2009) in their study with West African Dwarf bucks fed poultry waste-cassava peel based diet, where they reported 60.78. 56.78, 59.64 and 64.99 and Yousuf et al. (2013) where they reported (53.56. 56,43,49.74 and 46,88) in their study on the growth performance characteristics of goats fed varied levels of poultry manure in whole cassava plant based concentrate diet. The present findings of intake per 100 kg B.W (kg) (4.48±0.37, 4.23±0.29, 4.41±0.14, 4.59±0.23 and4.73±0.54) was higher than the findings of Pailan et al. (2008) in their study on evaluation of sorghum stover based diets in cattle, sheep and goats, where they reported 2.68, 3.59 and 3.44 respectively for the three different breed understudied and Jokthan et al. (2013) in their study on effect of cottonseed replacement with broiler litter on performance of Yankasa rams fed maize husk basal diet. The authors reported 3.07, 3.13, 3.17, 3.30 and 3.06 as the intake per 100 kg B.W of the experimental animals studied.
Body weight changes of experimental goats
The findings on body weight changes of experimental animals fed on different levels of poultry dropping based diet are presented in Table 4. Prior to the commencement of the experiment, the average initial body weights of animals in each treatment group were 13.12±1.06 in T1; 13.85±0.84 in T2; 13.93±0.43 in T3; 13.38±0.93 in T4 and 14.00±1.35 kg in T5, while final body weights at the end of the experiment were 14.72±1.02, 15.45±0.88, 16.03±0.48, 18.28±1.19 and 19.4±1.27 kg in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 treatment groups, respectively.
As elucidated in Table 4. the average daily body weight gain of animals in each treatment group’s were16.49±1.97, 16.49±2.77, 21.65±2.05, 50.56±2.69 and 55.67±1.75g/day and the total body weight gain was 1.6±0.19, 1.6±0.27,2.1±0.2, 4.9±0.26and5.4±0.17kg in T1,T2,T3,T4 and T5, respectively. The performance in body weight gain was highly significant (P<0.05) in T5 (55.67±1.75g/day) and T4 (50.56±2.69 g/day) than other treatment groups. The B.W gain increases across the treatment groups as level of inclusion of poultry dropping based diet increases. This result concur with the earlier report by Njidda (2010) on study the effect of cotton seed cake and dry poultry litter supplementation on performance of grazing sheep in the Sahelian zone of Nigeria. The author reported that there was a significant difference between the supplemented group and control group. Animal fed with dry poultry litter showed significantly (P<0.05) higher daily live gain. Also, Gashu et al. (2014) studied the effect of supplementation on feed intake and body weight change of Washera sheep fed urea treated finger millet straw, reported that supplementation of Urea treated finger millet straw promoted higher daily weight gain. Highest daily weight gain was observed with T4 and T5.
The higher performance in body weight gain by animals supplemented with 80% poultry droppings could be due to the ability of the supplements to supply necessary nutrients (especially fermentable N) in ensuring optimum microbial biomass as reported by Abdul et al. (2008).The result of the present finding was slightly higher than the result reported by Jokthan et al. (2013) in their study on effect of cottonseed replacement with broiler litter on performance of Yankasa rams fed maize husk basal diet. The authors reported 25.33, 25.17, 26.00, 26.00, and 25.83 as the B.W gain (g/day) of the experimental animals studied
Feed conversion efficiency of the experimental goats
The per cent feed conversion efficiency (FCE) of the experimental goats were 2.89±0.34, 2.88±0.48, 3.53±0.29, 8.34±0.44 and 9.0±0.28 in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 treatment group respectively. The FCE value of T5 was significantly higher than all treatment groups and was closely followed by T4.There was no significant (P>0.05) differences between treatment group T1 and T2, however significant (P<0.05) differences existed between them and other treatment groups respectively. The feed conversion efficiency data showed that T5 (9.0±0.28) is best converter of feed to flesh while T1 and T2 (2.89±0.34, 2.88±0.48) are the least converter of feed to flesh.
The present findings agrees with the reports by Nadeem et al.(1993) in their study on the effect of feeding broiler litter on growth and nutrient utilization by Barbari goats where they documented the best FCE for treatment group fed the highest poultry litter (30%) as 12.45. Similarly, Yousuf et al. (2013) in their study on the growth performance characteristics of goats fed varied levels of poultry manure in whole cassava plant based concentrate diet reported 10.63 as the best FCE in the treatment group fed highest level of poultry manure (22%).
Nutrient digestibility coefficient of experimental goats
The average dry matter digestibility values in experimental goats in treatment T1 were 55.05 per cent, 51.56 per cent in treatment T2, 54.18 per cent in treatment T3, and 53.41 per cent in treatment T4 and 53.04 per cent in treatment T5. The average digestibility coefficient of dry matter in treatment T1 and T3, T4 and T5 were at par with each other.
Gelaye et al. (1997) reported similar results of DM digestibility coefficients as 63.6, 57.2 and 57.5 per cent in T1, T2 and T3 respectively, in growing goats fed pearl millet straw and similarly Alem et al. (2011) reported in their study with Ethiopian Island lamb fed Eleusine coracana straw supplemented with variously sourced protein mixed with wheat bran that supplementation improved (P<0.01) digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NDF of the total diet and Njidda (2010) who studied the effect of cotton seed cake and dry poultry litter supplementation on performance of grazing sheep in the Sahelian zone of Nigeria, reported that dry matter digestibility were significantly (P<0.05) higher for the groups fed dry poultry litter.
While Bello and Tsado (2013) reported higher values of DM digestibility coefficients than the present findings as 81.00, 86.70, 88.10, 89.30 and 91.40 per cent in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively in Yankasa rams. The DM digestibility coefficient of T3 which is at par with T1 and followed by T4 and T5 followed by T5 and T3, shows that treatment groups supplemented with dried poultry droppings can favourably replace ground nut cake (GNC) in goat diet with significant improvement. This could be due to the ability of the supplements to supply necessary nutrients (especially fermentable N) in ensuring optimum microbial biomass as reported by Abdul et al. (2008).
In the present study the crude protein digestibility coefficient values were observed as 55.44 (T1), 51.57 (T2), 54.93 (T3), 53.40 (T4), and 53.03 per cent for treatment group T5 respectively. Highest digestibility coefficients of CP was observed for T1 (55.44) followed by T3; however there was no significant differences between T1 and T3. Similarly, there were no significant differences between T4 and T5. T1 and T3 are at par with each other in CP digestibility coefficients; this indicates that treatment groups supplemented with poultry droppings can compete favourably with the groups fed convectional supplement. Furthermore the higher digestibility values observed in the supplemented treatment groups could be attributed to the higher CP intake compared to the control treatment group. However, Bello and Tsado (2013) reported higher values of CP digestibility coefficients than the present findings as 76.80, 81.00, 82.00, 83.40 and 86.60 per cent in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively in Yankasa rams fed sorghum stover supplemented with dried poultry droppings.
The digestibility coefficients of ether extract (EE) observed in the present study were 55.02, 51.55, 54.17, 53.41, and 53.00 per cent in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 treatment groups respectively. The table showed that digestibility coefficients of ether extract were significantly higher in treatment T1 and T3 followed by T4 and T5 respectively. However T1 and T3 and T4 and T5 were at par with each other and followed by T3, with the lowest values. This values were at variance with the results reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) in EE digestibility coefficients of sorghum stover supplemented with poultry droppings fed to Yankasa rams as 58.20, 87.20, 89.40, 91.90 and 92.10 per cent in T1,T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively.
The average crude fibre (CF) digestibility coefficient values in the present study were observed as 55.04, 51.5, 54.18, 53.38, and 53.25 per cent in treatment T1, T2, T3, T4 andT5, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of crude fibre in treatment T1 was higher, however there were no significant differences between T1 and T3. Also, there is no significant difference between T4 and T5 followed by the lowest value of T2 (51.56).The crude fibre digestibility coefficient value of the present findings was slightly higher than the results reported by Fayed (2011) in CF digestibility coefficients of barley sprout grown in rice straw and Tamarix fed to growing Barki lambs as 42.16, 48.73, 52.89, 55.93 and 52.69 per cent in T1,T2,T3,T4 and T5, respectively and was lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) in CF digestibility coefficients of sorghum stover supplemented with poultry droppings fed to Yankasa rams as 70.80, 82.50, 84.70, 86.80 and 88.30 per cent in T1,T2, T3,T4 and T5, respectively.
The average values of nitrogen free extract (NFE) digestibility coefficients were found to be as 56.42, 51.57, 54.18, 47.74, and 53.03 per cent for treatment groups T1,T2,T3,T4 and T5, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of NFE in treatment T1 was higher, however there were no significant differences between T1 and T3 and was followed by treatment T5, T2 while the lowest value was found in T4.The values in this present study were lower than the values reported by Bello and Tsado (2013) in NFE digestibility coefficients of sorghum stover supplemented with poultry droppings fed to Yankasa rams as 95.30, 94.40,94.70, 96.40 and 94.70 per cent in T1,T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively.
5. Conclusion
This study showed that goats fed with dried poultry dropping based diets had significantly better dry matter intake, body weight gains and feed conversion efficiency. The study further reveals that nutrient digestibility was also improved with the supplementation of dried poultry based diet. From the results of the present study, it is recommended that sun dried poultry droppings can be used satisfactorily to supplement finger millet straw up to 80 per cent and improved goat’s growth and production performance.