EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF DESERT BUCKS ON NATURAL GRAZING WITH BLEPHARIS LINARIIFOLIA PODS ON FEED INTAKE AND PERFORMANCE

This study was conducted with the objective of studying the effects of replacement of sorghum grains with Blepharis linariifolia pods in rations on dry matter intake, nutrients digestibility and weight change of Desert bucks. Eighteen un-castrated bucks at six to seven months of age and average weight of 11.250+ 0.300kg were used in the trial. The animals were divided into three equal groups. They were vaccinated against epidemic diseases in the region and were drenched with anthelmintic (ivermectin) for internal and external parasites control. They were also ear tagged to facilitate identification during the treatments. Two rations were formulated using either sorghum grains or Blepharis linariifolia pods at 20% together with, 20% groundnut seed cake 10% molasses, 5% limestone and 14% groundnut shells, 1% salt and 30% wheat bran. The third group was fed on natural grazing only with water provided continuously. The feed intake was estimated daily until the end of the trial period. Then the animals were weighed at the start of the experiment and once a week until the end of the experiment. The experimental feed was analyzed via proximate analysis (AOAC, 2010). In vitro dry matter and the organic matter digestibility was determined according to Telly and Terrie (1967). The experimental design was a complete randomized design and data was analyzed via analysis of variance and the differences among treatment means were detected via LSD test. The results showed that the dry matter intake was significantly higher in group (I) that was on a ration formulated using sorghum grains then the group (II) that was supplemented with a ration where grains were replaced by Blepharis linariifolia pods and finally those on the natural pasture only (III). The results showed that the in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility was significantly higher in group (II) that was supplemented with a ration containing 20% Blepharis linariifolia pods followed by group (I) on the concentrated ration with 20% sorghum grains and finally those on the natural pasture only (III). The weight gains were higher in the group that was supplemented with a ration containing 20% Blepharis linariifolia pods followed by those which were supplemented with sorghum grains ration and lastly those on the natural grazing. The study concluded that it is possible to fatten and feed the Desert goats using Blepharis linariifolia pods instead of sorghum grains in the rations. It recommended that more research be conducted in understanding the effect of replacement of sorghum grains with Blepharis linariifolia p