Abstract

The study evaluated the feed intake and organ weights of sixteen growing West African dwarf bucks fed some browse species and a concentrate supplement diet. The goats were allotted into four (4) treatments of four goats each. The goats were fed leaves from Gmelina, (Gmelina aborea)) Tamarind, (Tamarindus, Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Teak leaves (Tectona grandis) at 200g/goat/day for Treatments 1, 2, 3and 4 respectively and a concentrate supplement diet at 100g per goat/day for a duration of fifty (50) days. Known volume of water was served, feed and water intake were monitored and recorded The experimental design was a completely randomized design ,data were analysed using a one way analysis of variance and least significant difference to separate the significant means using SPSS statistical package for windows 23 , 2015 version .Concentrate and browse samples were analysed using the methods of AOAC (2000) ,daily browse intake (134.22&ndash; 245.44g), total daily feed intake(225.53 &ndash; 339.87g), daily water intake(340.00&ndash; 420.00ml) and daily supplement intake values were all significantly (p>0.05) different across the treatment means . The water intake followed similar trend as the dry matter intake. All the organ weights were not significant (P<0.05), the weights were within normal ranges for goats. It was therefore concluded that Gmelina arborea was the most preferred by the goats in terms of intake, it also had the best array of nutrients. The four browse species were safe for the goats and were therefore recommended for goat feeding especially during the long dry season. Further research using other breeds and classes of goats as well as other species of ruminants such as sheep and cattle was also recommended.