Yousuf et al., 2007. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 19 (2)

Fifteen adult male West African Dwarf, WAD goats were used in an 84-day dry matter and nutrient intake and digestibility, growth and nitrogen retention study to evaluate the leaf meals of Cassava, Leucaena and Gliricidia plants as protein supplements to low quality (7.63% CP) Panicum maximum hay. The goats were divided into three groups balanced for initial body weights (10.490.76 Kg) and assigned randomly to three dietary treatments. Treatment consisted of 130 g Cassava leaf meal, 120 g Leucaena leaf meal or 130 g Gliricidia leaf meal that was used to supplement an ad libitum intake of the grass hay. The three protein-rich supplements as used in the study provided equivalents of 4.87, 4.92 and 4.81 g supplemental nitrogen (about 30 g CP/head/day) respectively. Goats receiving cassava leaf meal supplement consumed dry matter at a level similar (P>0.05) to those on Gliricidia leaf meal supplemented ration but higher (P<0.05) than those offered Leucaena leaf meal supplement. Digestibility of crude protein increased (P<0.05) in the order: - Cassava leaf meal > Leucaena leaf meal > Gliricidia leaf meal. No significant treatment effect (P<0.05) was observed on dry matter or NDF digestibility among the three treatment groups. Nitrogen retention (g/head/day) of 2.05 obtained for goats fed Gliricidia leaf meal supplement was lower (P<0.05) than the values of 2.85 and 3.04 recorded for those on Cassava- and Leucaena leaf meals supplemented rations respectively. Body weight gains (g/day) were 26.4, 27.8 and 18.1 for goats receiving Cassava-, Leucaena- and Gliricidia-leaf meal treatments respectively. Cassava leaf meal was adjudged superior to Gliricidia leaf meal but comparable to Leucaena leaf meal as forage protein supplement in goats consuming low quality Panicum maximum hay.