Comparative performance of West African Dwarf goats fed Alchornea cordifolia and Gliricidia sepium supplemented with Pennisetum purpureum

Alchornea cordifolia and Gliricidia sepium leaves are widely found and available in Delta State Nigeria, Alchornea is a relatively unexploited browse plant, however much research has been carried out on gliricidia sepuim, with goats on free grazing randomly browsing on Alchornea leaves, thus making it necessary for a comparative study to access its nutritional potentials. Using Completely Randomised Design, Eighteen (18) West African Dwarf (WAD) goats were used to investigate the performance of goats fed Alchornea cordifolia and Gliricidia sepium leaves supplemented with Pennisetum purpureum. The experimental diet consist of Alcornea cordifolia plus Pennisetum purpureum as diet A, Gliricidia sepium plus Pennisetum purpureum as diet B, and a Concentrate plus Pennisetum purpureum as diet C which served as a control diet. All Data collected during this study were subjected to the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means compared using the Duncan Multiple Range Tests. Goats fed diet A (Alchornea cordifolia plus Pennisetum purpureum) recorded a lower and significant dry matter intake (858g/day) when compared with goats fed Diet B (Gliricidia sepium plus Pennisetum purpureum) (955.33g/day), There was an encouraging weight gain in the various experimental groups. The average weight gain of goats on the experimental diet A (1.22kg), B (1.14kg) and C (1.43kg) were not significantly(p>0.05) different, though goats on the concentrate diet recorded a higher weight gain. On the basis of average weight gain per day (g/day), goats on diet A (Alchornea cordifolia plus Pennisetum purpureum) (13.56g/day) were comparable to goats on diet B (Gliricidia sepium plus Pennisetum purpureum) (12.679g/day). The results from the study shows Alchornea cordifolia leaves as a potential feed for WAD goats Key words: Alchornea, Gliricidia, Performance; Comparative