Piliostigma thonningii leaves as dry season feed supplement for West African dwarf goats

Abstract

A persistent issue with ruminant production during the dry season in the tropics is scarcity of forages. Producers are faced with the search for alternative feed supplements to address this issue without compromising productivity. Acceptability of Piliostigma thonningii as dry season feed supplement to West African dwarf (WAD) goat was investigated in this study. The WAD goats (n=15) were divided into three treatments of five goats each in a completely randomized design. The animals were fed with Panicum maximum without supplementation at 100% (T1), 90% Panicum maximum+10% Piliostigma thonningii (T2) and 80% Panicum maximum+20% Piliostigma thonningii (T3). Fresh water was also made available throughout the trial that lasted six weeks. Chemical analysis of the forages was observed while feed intake, weight gain and nutrient digestibility were monitored. Results showed that Piliostigma thonningii had a higher (15.25%) crude protein and lower (57.38%) neutral detergent fibre contents than the grass. Both had comparable energy values. Piliostigma thonningii had relatively high mineral contents while the anti-nutrient contents of phytate and oxalate were relatively low. Although the crude protein intake increased with increasing levels of supplementation, the total dry matter intake was not favoured beyond 10% level of Piliostigma thonningii level. It can be concluded that there was no advantage in feeding West African dwarf goat Piliostigma thonningii beyond 10% level.

Ethnobotany of an indigenous tree Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Fabaceae) in the arid and semi-arid areas of South Omo Zone, southern Ethiopia

“…[ 59 ], and Ayenew [ 9 ]. In agreement with this study, the findings of Jimoh and Oladiji [ 13 ], Bekele and Tengnäs [ 3 ], Orwa et al [ 1 ], Egharevba and Kunle [ 11 ], Chidumayo [ 10 ], and Jemiseye et al [ 12 ] revealed that the pods are nutritious and preferred by domestic animals such as cattle and browser wild animal species such as the African elephant and antelopes.…”

“…Sources show that the different parts of the tree (leaves, pods, and seeds) which are nutritious are browsed by animals including elephants, livestock, and antelopes [ 1 , 10 – 13 ]. The leaves of P. thonningii are eaten and chewed by the Masai people to relieve thirst [ 12 ].…”

“…The bark is used to make strings, ropes, and clothes [ 1 , 2 , 11 ]. Different phytochemicals (such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, anthraquinones, steroids, and volatile oils) are extracted from the parts of P. thonningii and used to treat various diseases, such as fever, toothache, wound healing, dysentery, respiratory ailments (bronchitis, cough, and chest complaints), snake bites, hookworm, skin infections, stomach ache, and chronic ulcers [ 1 , 12 – 18 ]. In Tanzania, the tender leaves are chewed and the juice is swallowed to treat stomach-ache, coughs, and snakebite [ 19 ].…”

Wound Healing Potentials of Methanolic Leaf Extract of <i>Piliostigma thonningii</i> Schum

“…The leaves are used as food in the Benna-Tsemay and Hamar Districts of the South Omo Zone (Hailemariam et al, 2021;Paulos et al, 2016) and also consumed by animals as fodder (Tadesse et al 2012, Amente, 2017, Tebkew et al, 2018and Ayenew 2019. The leaves are eaten and chewed by the Masai people to relieve thirst (Jemiseye et al, 2019). The wood is suitable for poles, firewood, charcoal, carpentry and construction, to while the bark is used for making strings and ropes (Orwa et al, 2009;Chidumayo, 2018).…”