Volume 3 (Issue 1) 2023 Article 3

ABSTRACT:

The Study which was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Abuja, was aimed atevaluating the effect of feeding Aspergillus treated Sugarcane scraps on feed intake, weight gain,digestibility and partial budget analysis of Red Sokoto goats. Nine mixed sexes Red Sokoto goats with anaverage initial weight of between 13.37 and 13.60kg (±SEM=0,07) used for the study were acclimatizedto the experimental diets for two weeks. The study consisted of 56 days feeding trial and 7 days ofdigestibility period in a Complete Randomised design model . The dietary treatments were T1 (0%Aspergillus treated Sugarcane scraps); T2 (12.50% Aspergillus treated Sugarcane scraps) and T3 (25%Aspergillus treated Sugarcane scraps). The results revealed significant variations (P< 0.05) in theaverage dry matter intake {500g/day (T1); 450g/day (T2); and 750g/day (T3)}. Crude Protein intake,ether extract intake, metabolizable energy intake and ash intake were highest for T3 compared to otherdietary treatments. The significant (P<0.05) weight gain noted was highest for T3 and lowest for T1.Feed Conversion Ratio (FRC) was best for T2 and T3. Digestibility of all parameters were significantlydifferent (P<0.05) with the highest value recorded for T3. Feed cost per kilogram was N267.03 (T1);N287.67 (T2) and N308.69 (T3) while feed cost/g weight gain was economical for T3 (N0.39) comparedwith N0.54 (T2) and N2.05 (T3). The study concluded that feeding Aspergillus treated Sugarcane scrapsto Red Sokoto goats holds a positive effect on the performance and economically feasible