title: Growth rates and milk production potential of Sahelian and Red Sokoto breeds of goats in northern Guinea Savannah.
abstract: The milk production potentials and growth rates of Red Sokoto and Sahelian goats fed basal diets of maize stover and Digitaria smutsii (wolly finger grass) supplemented with concentrate was investigated in two separate trials. In experiment 1, ten multi-parous does were allocated to intensive management following kidding. Does were hand-milked twice weekly and the milk production recorded. Body weight changes of dam and kid, milk fat, milk solid were determined weekly over 12 weeks period. The average birth weight of the Sahelian (2.2+/-0.23 kg) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the Red Sokoto kids (1.0+/-0.17). At weaning age, the average kid weight of the Sahelian (5.6+/-0.42 kg) was significantly higher than the Red Sokoto (3.9+/-0.44 kg). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in daily milk yield and total lactation between the two breeds. The total solids and milk fat of 16.4+/-0.39 and 3.7+/-0.13% were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the Red Sokoto than the Sahelian (15.1+/-0.39 and 3.2+/-0.13%). The second trial was to evaluate the comparative growth of the Sahelian and Red Sokoto breeds of goats. Animals were group-fed based on sex and fed Digitaria smutsii hay supplemented with concentrate. The growth trial lasted for 150 days with a 14 day digestibility trial. The Average Daily Gain (ADG) were significantly (p<0.05) different for breed, as well as sex. The Red Sokoto (66.9+/-1.59) kids had higher ADG than the Sahelian (46.6+/-1.59). Similarly the males of the Red Sokoto (61.9+/-1.59) had higher ADG than the Sahelian males (46.7+/-0.59) and the females of both breed. The experiments demonstrated a linear increase in weight gains of Red Sokoto over the Sahelian and a slightly higher milk yield obtained from the Sahelian providing the basis to conclude that the Sahelian goat can adapted and fit into the production systems of Sudan Savannah rural farmers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Makun
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ajanusi
authors.forename: O W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Ehoche
authors.forename: C A M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lakpini
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Otaru
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000254:growth & development; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D016701:Guinea; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D011247:Pregnancy; D014886:Weaning