Effects of Substitution of Concentrate Mixture with Dried Moringa (<i>Moringa Stenopetala</i>) Leaves on Feed Intake, Digestibility and Body Weight Gain of Woyto-Guji Goats

Abstract

The study was carried out at Arbaminch Agricultural research center, Gamo Gofa zone, Ethiopia, using twenty five intact male yearling Woyto-Guji goats. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of dried moringa leaf substitution to concentrate mixture on feed intake, digestibility and body weight gain of Woyto-Guji goats and to assess the economic benefit of dried Moringa leaf substitution. The experimental design was randomized complete block design. Goats were blocked into five block based on their initial body weight (BW) and randomly assigned to one of the five treatments. The experiment consisted of 90 days of feeding trial and 7 days of digestibility trial. The five dietary treatments used were100% concentrate mixture (CM) consisting of wheat bran (57%), noug (Guizota abyssinica) seed cake (23%), maize (19%) and salt (1%) [T1]; 75% CM+25% dried moringa stenopetala leaf (DMSL) [T2]; 50% CM+50% DMSL [T3]; 25% CM+75% DMSL [T4] and 100% DMSL [T5]. The natural pasture hay of this study was medium quality grass and the CP content was better demanded for maintenance requirement of goats. Total dry matter intake (TDMI) expressed as% BW and metabolic BW (kg/w 0.75) were different (p<0.05) among treatments with an overall mean of 3.46% of BW and 64.59 g DM/kg w 0.75 per day. The TDMI was in the range of 3.3 to 3.7% BW. The CP intake has increased in ascending order with increased level of DMSL supplementation. The trend in TDMI (g/day) of goats across the feeding period showed progressive increment. The increase in BW throughout the feeding period is an attribute of increase in feed and digestible nutrient intakes. Based on the partial budget analysis as well from biological point of view, supplementation of 75% and 100% dried moringastenopetala leaf could be recommended as profitable for goat producer. Therefore, goat producers can use moringa to attain higher body weight gain within a short period of time.