NUTRITIVE VALUE OF TEPHROSIA CANDIDA SEED IN WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS

Groundnut-cake (GNC), Soybean-meal (SBM) and cottonseed-cake (CSC) are expensive protein sources for ruminants. This study examined the feeding value of unconventional protein source of Tephrosia candida seed (TCS) in WAD goats. Four diets were formulated using GNC, SBM, CSC and TCS protein sources and fed to WAD goats to monitor intake, digestibility and nitrogen utilization. Effects of feeding the diets as supplements on weight gain of grazing goats were also investigated. Results showed the dry matter intake (DMI) of the concentrate made from the conventional protein were not significantly different (mean = 101.0 g/d) but depressed in TCS diets (66.11 g/d). Crude protein intake (CPI, g/d) from TCS (16.67) was higher (P < 0.05) than that of GNC (16.55) but was inferior to the CPI of both CSC (25.56) and SBM (19.72) diets. Intake of NDF (38.21 – 51.08 g/d) and ADF (17.84 – 28.97) varied (P < 0.05) and followed the trend observed for CPI. Apparent digestibility of CP (%) was higher (P < 0.05) in TCS (63.05) than values for both the SBM (58.2) and CSC (42.79) diets, but not the GNC (63.78). The best digested NDF (53.36%) and ADF (53.93%) were from GNC and TCS diets respectively. N-balance (g/d) and retention (%) compared favourably in TCS (1.42 and 53.2) with those of SBM (1.69 and 51.9) and GNC (1.41 and 53.2) but were significantly least (P < 0.05) in CSC diet (1.34 and 32.6). Weight gain of grazing goats was highest (27.38 g/day) and lowest (7.74 g/day) in goats fed TCS and SBM respectively. Tephrosia candida seed can be used as a protein source ingredient as performance of goats on it was comparable to those of expensive GNC, SBM and CSC