Effect of Feeding Graded Levels of Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) Seed Meal on the Performance Characteristics of West African Dwarf Goat

M.A. Belewu, B.R. Orisameyiti and K.A. Ajibola

The efficacy of Tigernut seed meal in the diet of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats was evaluated in a completely randomized design model for a 56 day period. The diets consist of A (control, without Tigernut seed meal), B (10% Tigernut seed meal plus 28% wheat offal) and C (20% Tigernut seed meal plus 18% wheat offal). Other ingredients are of fixed percentages. The results revealed increasing crude protein and acid detergent fibre contents as the Tigernut seed meal increased. The intakes of the two components (crude protein and acid detergent fibre) were significantly higher in diet C compared to other diets However, the crude protein digestibility was similar in all the diets while the acid detergent fibre digestibility of the Tigernut seed meal based diet was superior (p<0.05) to that of the control. The ether extract intake and digestibility were higher (p<0.05) for diets B and C (Tigernut seed meal based diets) compared to diet A (control). The crude fibre digestibility of diet C was numerically higher than that of diet A (control) which are similar (p>0.05). Animals on Tigernut seed meal based diet gained more weight than those on diet A (control) due probably to higher feed efficiency of these diets (B and C). In conclusion, a Tigernut seed meal could form part of the complete diet, supplying both protein and energy supplements in the diet of ruminant animals.