Performance characteristics and nutrient digestibility in West African Dwarf goats fed organic fertilizers treated Congo grass (Brachairia ruziziensis) silage

This study evaluated the performance characteristics and nutrient digestibility in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed organic fertilizers treated Brachairia ruziziensis silage. In a sixteen-week feeding trial, 20 WAD goats were randomly allotted to four treatments in a completely randomised design. Brachairia ruziziensis plot was established and fertilized with organic fertilizers namely T4 (poultry manure), T3 (Wonder fertilizer), T2 (Natsoil fertilizer), and T1 (control) being no treatment with organic fertilizer. Grasses were harvested at bloom stage; silages were produced from each of these organic fertilizers treatments and fed to WAD goats at 2.5% of their body weight as supplement to concentrate diets. The crude protein content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in T3 silage (6.00), than T4 (5.82), T2 (5.30) and T1 (4.25). In contrast, the T1 (33.23) silage had the significantly highest (p < 0.05) crude fibre compared to T4 (29.86), T2 (29.62) and least T3 (28.86). The goats fed T3 silage had similar (p > 0.05) total weight gain with T2 and T4. Also, goats in T1, T2, and T4 had similar weight gain. The daily weight gain had similar trend as total weight gain. Goats in T1, T2, and T4 had similar feed conversion ratio, while those of T3 and T4 were similar. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the means of all the digestible nutrients across the treatments. It was concluded that WAD goats fed organic Wonder fertilizer-treated Brachiaria ruziziensis silage had the superior crude protein and daily weight gain compared with the control.