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The milk production potentials and growth rates of Red Sokoto and Sahelian goats fed basal diets of maize stover and Digitaria smutsii (wolly finger grass) supplemented with concentrate was investigated in two separate trials. In experiment 1, ten multi-parous does were allocated to intensive management following kidding. Does were hand-milked twice weekly and the milk production recorded. Body weight changes of dam and kid, milk fat, milk solid were determined weekly over 12 weeks period. The average birth weight of the Sahelian (2.2+/-0.23 kg) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the Red Sokoto kids (1.0+/-0.17). At weaning age, the average kid weight of the Sahelian (5.6+/-0.42 kg) was significantly higher than the Red Sokoto (3.9+/-0.44 kg). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in daily milk yield and total lactation between the two breeds. The total solids and milk fat of 16.4+/-0.39 and 3.7+/-0.13% were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the Red Sokoto than the Sahelian (15.1+/-0.39 and 3.2+/-0.13%). The second trial was to evaluate the comparative growth of the Sahelian and Red Sokoto breeds of goats. Animals were group-fed based on sex and fed Digitaria smutsii hay supplemented with concentrate. The growth trial lasted for 150 days with a 14 day digestibility trial. The Average Daily Gain (ADG) were significantly (p<0.05) different for breed, as well as sex. The Red Sokoto (66.9+/-1.59) kids had higher ADG than the Sahelian (46.6+/-1.59). Similarly the males of the Red Sokoto (61.9+/-1.59) had higher ADG than the Sahelian males (46.7+/-0.59) and the females of both breed. The experiments demonstrated a linear increase in weight gains of Red Sokoto over the Sahelian and a slightly higher milk yield obtained from the Sahelian providing the basis to conclude that the Sahelian goat can adapted and fit into the production systems of Sudan Savannah rural farmers.

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These studies were carried out at the Research farm of National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika to investigate the effect of management practices on the milk yield and live weight changes of grazing Red Sokoto and Sahelian goats as influenced by supplementation with groundnut haulms and concentrate. Experiment 1 involved 5 Red Sokoto goats with average weight of 27.3 ± 1.37Kg kept either on-farm or on-station and fed groundnut haulms or concentrate. The result showed that management had significant effect on average daily gain (ADG) of kid at 146.7± 0.62g (P<0.01) and dam weight loss of-24.7±1.26g (P<0.05). Milk yield was less sustained on farm. Week of lactation affected milk yield (P<0.01). In experiment 2, five goats of each of Red Sokoto or Sahelian breeds were randomly assigned to either groundnut haulms or concentrate as supplement. The results, showed that there were significant effect of breed (P<0.0001) and week (P<0.001) on milk yield, mean dam and kid weights respectively. The Red Sokoto dams had higher milk yield (414.1±47.19ml) than the Sahelian dams (203.2±46.61ml). Similarly, breed and type of supplementation fed showed significant difference (P<0.005) on milk yield. Red Sokoto dams fed concentrate produced more milk (555.1±64.92ml) than Sahelian fed concentrate (295.2±69.51ml) or groundnut haulms (111.4±69.51ml). Also in comparing the kid growth performance between on-farm and onstation, The average daily gain of kids was 112.9g± 0.53 was significantly influenced by week of lactation, while dam lost an average of 11.7±0.65g indicating that kids managed on farm were heavier than those on station. However dam on-station lost less weight than those on-farms. The result showed that supplementation of grazing does with diets of protein source irrespective of management will improve milk yield and that heavier dams supported better kid growth.

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Highlights Concentrate mixture containing palm oil was fed at graded levels to lactating goats Total DMI increased with concentrate level and intake of hay was not compromised Higher concentrate levels improved daily milk yield by 48% with higher persistency of production Dam milk yield accounted for 61% variation in kids pre-weaning daily weight gain

Twenty Red Sokoto bucks (average liveweight of 21.4±3.2 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of varying levels of palm oil (PO) in concentraterations on nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention. Five iso-nitrogenous concentrate supplements (CP 160 g/kg concentrate) compounded with 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 g palm oil/kg of concentrate, were used to supplement a basal diet of wooly finger grass (Digitaria smutsii, Stent) hay. The five supplements were designated as treatments 0-PO (control), 40-PO, 80-PO, 120-PO and 160- PO. The bucks were each fed 536 g/d of hay, and 343 g/d of concentrate to give a ratio of 60:40 hay to concentrate. Results showed that inclusion of PO in the concentrate rations did not affect (P>0.05) total dry matter intake of the goats but intake values declined slightly with further increase in levels of PO beyond 40 g/kg concentrate. No adverse effects on total tract digestibility of nutrients were observed. Nitrogen retention of the goats was positive and not affected (P>0.05) by dietary levels of PO. It was concluded that inclusion of palm oil in the concentrate supplement beyond 40 g/kg level for the Red Sokoto goats marginally depressed total dry matter intake, but had no adverse effects on the total tract digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen retention.