title: Inclusion of Tithonia diversifolia in multinutrient blocks for WestAfrican dwarf goats fed Brachiaria straw.
abstract: Recent investigations suggest that the development of multinutrient feed blocks with inclusion of tree and shrub leaves could improve the nutritive value and digestibility of straw. In order to test these possibilities, three types of multinutrient blocks (MNB) namely: MNB0 (wheat bran = 100%; Tithonia diversifolia leaf = 0%), MNB50 (wheat bran = 50%; T. diversifolia leaf = 50%) and MNB100 (wheat bran = 0%; T. diversifolia leaf = 100%) were fed for 15 days in a 3 × 3 Latin square arrangement to West African dwarf goats consuming Brachiaria ruziziensis straw. The blocks presented a good cohesion and a good hardness. The inclusion of T. diversifolia improved levels of crude protein, mineral, feed unit for milk production (UFL) and feed unit for meat production (UFV), but decreased palatability. The effects on the digestibility of B. ruziziensis straw were evaluated in nine West African dwarf goats fed individually with MNB0 + straw, MNB50 + straw and MNB100 + straw. The dry matter, organic matter and crude fibre digestibility of B. ruziziensis straw increased slightly with increasing level of inclusion of T. diversifolia. The apparent digestibility of nitrogen was comparable for all diets independent of the level of inclusion of T. diversifolia. This study showed that the inclusion of T. diversifolia leaves in the MNBs can be recommended to improve the feeding of goats during periods of drought.
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 222, Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Fernand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tendonkeng
authors.forename: Bienvenu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fogang Zogang
authors.forename: Camara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boukila
authors.forename: Etienne Tedonkeng
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Pamo
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae; D035201:Brachiaria; D002163:Cameroon; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006041:Goats / Q000254:growth & development*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009753:Nutritive Value / Q000502:physiology; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D009584:Nitrogen