Abstract
This study evaluated nitrogen utilization by West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed Guinea grass
(Panicum maximum) and two cultivars of Congo grass (Brachiaria mulato II and Brachiaria
ruziziensis) supplemented with palm kernel cake (PKC) and cassava peels (CP). Sixteen (16)
growing WAD bucks were assigned to four (4) dietary treatments in a completely randomized
design: T1 (Guinea grass only), T2 (Brachiaria mulato II + 20% PKC + 20% CP), T3 (Congo
grass + 20% PKC + 20% CP), and T4 (Guinea grass + 20% PKC + 20% CP). Proximate
composition and nitrogen balance were determined using the Kjeldahl method. Results showed
that supplemented diets (T2–T4) had higher crude protein (14.88–16.52%) compared to T1
(9.86%). Nitrogen intake was highest in T2 (2.62 g/day) and lowest in T1 (1.58 g/day). Faecal
nitrogen was higher in T2–T4 (0.61–0.62 g/day) than T1 (0.51 g/day), while urinary nitrogen
was highest in T3 (0.58 g/day). Nitrogen absorption, balance, and retention were significantly
(P<0.05) higher in T2 (2.01 g/day, 1.60 g/day, 61.07%) compared to T1 (1.07 g/day, 0.69
g/day, 43.67%). It is concluded that T2 had better nitrogen utilization and therefore enhances
protein bioavailability in WAD goats. It is therefore recommended that Brachiaria mulato II
should be supplemented with PKC and cassava peels when fed to WAD goats to improve
nitrogen economy and to support sustainable livestock production in resource-constrained
settings.
References
Aganga, A. A., Omphile, U. J., Thema, T., & Baitshotlhi, J. C. (2005). Chemical composition
of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) at different stages of growth and Napier grass
silages
Journal of Biological Sciences, 5(4), 493–496.
https://doi.org/10.3923/jbs.2005.493.496
Aina, A. B. J., Yusuf, A. O., Sogbade, L. A., & Sowande, O. S. (2002). Evaluation of different
combinations of palm kernel cake and cottonseed cake-based diets on the performance
of West African Dwarf goats. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 29(2), 192–198.
AOAC (2005). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, 18th Edition. Association
of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
Aruwayo, A., Tiri, G. D., Yahaya, M. A. & Akinyemi, M. (2015). An Emperical Analysis of
Ruminant Production in Dutsinma Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nig Int J.
Inov Agric and Bio. Res. 3(2):34-40
Dandara, G. B., Abubakar M. M., & Muhammad, A. S. (2023a). Effect of Harvesting Period
on Herbage Productivity and Chemical Composition of Harkiya (Digitaria debilis).
Nigerian Society for Animal Production, 48th Annual Conference. Pp 1557-1560
Dandara, G. B., Aganga, A. A. & Ekeocha, A. H. (2025). Effect of harvesting age on the
proximate and Minerals composition of panicum maximum. Nigerian Journal of
Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (NJAAT), 5, Number 1B, 162-168
Dandara, G. B., Sani, I., Dass, M. I., Gabriel, G. O., & Odumboni, A. A. (2023b). Effect of
Harvesting Age on the Proximate Composition of Congo Grass (Brachiaria
ruziziensis). Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, NSAP 2023 Proceedings, 662
665.
Ekeocha, A. H., Aganga, A. A., Odumboni, A. A. & Makinwa, O. M. (2023). ‘Growth Rate
and Biomass Accumulation in Forage Maize (Zea mays), Forage Millet (Echinochloa
utilis), Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Gamba Grass (Andropogon
gayanus). Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, 57(4), pp. 457-462.
https://doi.org/10.18805/IJARe.A-659
Falola, O. O., Adedeji, O. Y., Saka, A. A., Adegbite, O. O., & Adisa, A. F. (2015). Silage
quality, performance characteristics and blood parameters of West African Dwarf
(WAD) goats fed vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty) ensiled with
cassava peels. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 42(1), 1–10.
FAO (2008). Livestock Sector Brief: Nigeria. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
United Nation. Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch. AGAL, pp
1-18.
FAO. (2019). Livestock and pasture systems in West Africa. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org
FAO. (2025). Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations. Nigerian Livestock Figure
Available from: http://www.fao.org/livestock-systems/en. [Last accessed on 2025 June
20].
Inweh, D. A., Ikhatua, U. J., & Bamikole, M. A. (2021). Nutrient intake, growth and blood
parameters of West African Dwarf goats fed composite diets comprising of rumen
waste, poultry waste and cassava peels. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science and
Technology, 4(3), 61–71.
Kalio, G. A., Ayuk, A. A., & Agwunobi, L. N. (2014). Performance of West African Dwarf
(WAD) goats fed N-treated source and forage supplemented cassava peels in humid
Cross River State, Nigeria. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 4(6), 629
638.
Nigerian Meteorological Agency. (2025, February 5). 2024 State of the Climate in Nigeria.
NiMet. Retrieved from NiMet Publications (Publications → State of the Climate)
Oduguwa, B. O., Oni, A. O., Arigbede, O. M., Adesunbola, J. O., & Sudekum, K. H. (2013).
Feeding potential of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) peels ensiled with Leucaena
leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium assessed with West African dwarf goats. Tropical
Animal Health and Production, 45(6), 1363–1368. doi:10.1007/s11250-013-0370-y.
Rahman, M. M., Abdullah, R. B., Wan Embong, W. K., Nakagawa, T., & Akashi, R. (2013).
Effect of palm kernel cake as protein source in a concentrate diet on intake,
digestibility and live weight gain of goats fed Napier grass. Tropical Animal Health
and Production, 45(3), 873-878. doi:10.1007/s11250-012-0300-4.
Sani, I., Amodu, J. T., Tanko, R. J., Hassan, M. R., Adamu, N. & Girgiri, A. Y. (2020). Yield
and Quality of Brachiaria ruziziensis (Congo grass) and Centrosema pascuorum
(Centro) Mixtures as influenced by Mixture Ratios, Phosphorus Levels and Stage of
Harvest. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science and Technology (NJAST). Vol. 3 (3): 72
85. ISSN: 2645-2952. http://njast.com.ng/index.php/home/article/view/109
SAS (Statistical Analysis Systems) (2010). Software Package Version 9.2. Institute Inc., SAS
Campus drive, North Carolina 27513, USA.
Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B. & Lewis, B. A. (1991) Methods for dietary fibre, neutral
detergent fibre and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal
of Dairy Science 74, pp. 3583-3597
Wikipedia (2025). Ikole. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikole