Effects of supplementation with leaves of Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena leucocephala on goat production performance during dry and rainy seasons in the western highlands of Cameroon

A study of the effect of supplementary feeding of Calliandra calothyrsusand Leucaena leucocephala on goat production was conducted at Dschang University Research farm on 24 West African Dwarf goats aged between 2 and 3 years during the dry and rainy seasons. Two bucks were introduced to the herd for two consecutive months for breeding purposes after which the herd was divided in two groups. One group was subjected to supplementary feeding with equal quantity (800 g/goat/day) of C. calothyrsus and L. leucocephala leaves. The other group served as the control. Change in body weight of does and kids were monitored from onset of supplement till three months post-partum. Results revealed a reduced incidence of abortion and an increase in body weight in the groups receiving supplement. During the three months post-partum period the body weight decreased as compared to that recorded at parturition but the supplemented goats continued to have 11 to 15% more body weight than their respective control during the dry season whereas during the rainy season the difference between supplemented and non supplemented goats were not so pronounced. The average birth weight of the kids in the supplemented group (1.35 ±0.08 kg) was significantly (