Authors : T.O.Bawala , A.O. Akinsoyinu , M.A. Arigbede and O.J. Babayemi
Abstract: The effect of varying dietary crude protein levels on the reproductive performance of pregnant goats of West African dwarf, WAD, breed was investigated. Fifteen does with average weight of 22 kg were utilized for the 22 wk study in a completely randomized design. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric (2.60 Mcal ME ) and contained 10, 13 and 16% CP representing diet A, B and C respectively with 5 replications having one doe per replicate, hence giving 5 does randomly allotted per treatment. The treatment effects were evaluated in terms of does bodyweight changes, blood parameters gestation length, litter size and weight. The results revealed that does fed 10%CP (A) had the smallest litter size, with no difference (p>0.05) in litter weight among the three dietary groups. Treatment affects on dry matter intake DMI and bodyweight BW changes were significant. (p<0.05). Animals on 10% CP diet had lowest values for DMI and BW changes than their counterparts on diets B and C respectively. Similarly, the haemoglobin Hb concentration, packed cell volume and plasma urea nitrogen PUN was lower (p<0.05) in does fed diet A (10% CP)than their counterparts on diet B(13% CP) and C(16%CP).The experiment therefore indicates that a 10% dietary protein level may not be sufficient to meet the protein need of pregnant WAD goats.
T.O.Bawala , A.O. Akinsoyinu , M.A. Arigbede and O.J. Babayemi , 2006. Effect of Dietary Protein Utilization on Reproductive Performance of West African Dwarf Goats. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 819-822.