Abstract

Effects of feed intake, weight gain and digestibility when growing Red Sokoto goats consuming Aspergillus niger treated and untreated shea-butter cake (SBC) were determined. Twenty five Red Sokoto goats in a completely randomized design model with 56 d periods consumed diet A (control, without SBC), B (15%Aspergillus treated SBC), C (15% untreated SBC), D (7.5% Aspergillus treated SBC) and E (7.5% untreated SBC). Total DMI rose (P < 0.05) with Aspergillustreated diets (B and D) than the untreated diets (C and E). The trend was similar for the rest of the variables (CPI and EEI) except for the crude fibre intake which did not show a specific trend. Dry matter digestibility for the control diet (A) was the lowest than any of the other diets while the highest dry matter digestibility was recorded for diet D. For the untreated SBC diets (C and E) versus Aspergillustreated diets (B and D), crude fibre digestibility, crude protein digestibility and ether extract digestibility were lower for the untreated diets C and E. Liveweight gain was greatest (P < 0.05) for the control diet (A), greater (P < 0.05) for Aspergillus treated diets (B and D) than for the untreated diets (C and E) and tended to be (P < 0.05) great for 15% fungus untreated SBC than for diet E (7.5% fungus untreated SBC). Up to 15% of complete diet for Red Sokoto goats can be composed of Aspergillustreated SBC with little or no reduction in feed intake, weight gain or digestibility coefficient.

Key words: Feed intake, digestibility coefficient, weight gain, red Sokoto goats.