The effect of haulms of groundnut and cowpea supplementations on growth performance of Abergelle goats

摘要

An on-farm experiment was conducted in Tanqua Abergelle district, northern Ethiopia with objective to evaluate the effect of haulms of groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.Walp) supplementations on growth performance of Abergelle goats fed a basal diet of indigenous browse tree species. Twenty two farmers who provided three similar in weight intact male yearling Abergelle goats participated in the study. The initial body weight of experimental goats was 13.3+2.98 kg (mean + standard deviation). This study used randomized complete block design with three treatments and 22 replications. The treatments were either groundnut haulm (GH) or cowpea haulm (CH) supplemented at a level of 300 g/day and control (Ctl), without supplementation. Each farmer received all treatments. Chemical analysis was done by both proximate and detergent methods. The crude protein (CP) contents of the GH and CH were 144 and 156 g/kg DM, respectively. Statistical analysis was undertaken using the general linear model procedure of SAS version 9.0. Organic matter, CP and acid detergent fibre intake were higher (p0.0001) in CH than in GH. Final body weight and average daily gain were similar between goats supplemented with GH and CH, and they were higher ( p0.0001) than for goats in Ctl. Moreover, both supplements are easily available in the local areas at small holder farmers' level. Therefore, it can be concluded that supplementation of either GH or CH at the rate of 300 g/day/head are recommended as alternative source of protein supplements during the dry season for moderate weight gain of browsing Abergelle goats.