Dietary Supplementation with Eclipta Alba and Polyalthia Longifolia Foliages on Digestibility, Feeding Behaviour, Blood Profile and Carcass Characteristics of Goats

Abstract

A feeding trial that lasted for 90 days was carried out to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of Eclipa alba and Polyalthia longifolia foliages on digestibility, feeding behaviour, blood profile and carcass characteristics of goats. A total of thirty two West African dwarf goats of about 7–8 months old were randomly assigned to four treatment diets. Each treatment was replicated four times with two goats per replicate in a completely randomized design. The four formulated treatment diets were, D1 (90% guinea grass with 10% maize straw), D2 (50% guinea grass with 10% maize straw and 40% Eclipta alba foliage), D3 (50% guinea grass with 10% maize straw 20% Eclipta alba with 20% Polyalthia longifolia foliages) and D4 (50% guinea grass with 10% maize straw and 40% Polyalthia longifolia foliage). The results indicated that goats on D1 were significantly (P < 0.05) highest in eating rate, feed conversion ratio, urinary-N-output, urea and creatinine while cholesterol was greater in goats on D2. Crude fiber and ether extract digestibility with white blood cell was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for goats on D3 than other treatment diets. Feed intake, ruminating rate, live weight gain, dry matter with crude protein digestibility, nitrogen intake with retention, red blood cell, total protein, dressing weight and stomach were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in goats on D4 compared with those on D1, D2 and D3. Eating with ruminating time, initial weight, faecal-N-output and most of the carcass cuts with relative organs showed no significant different (P > 0.05) among treatment diets. It could therefore be concluded that supplementation with Eclipta alba and Polyalthia longifolia foliages or their mixture in diets enhance digestibility, feeding behaviour, blood profile and carcass characteristics without any deleterious effect in goats.