NITROGEN UTILIZATION BY WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS FED GUINEA GRASS AND TWO CULTIVARS OF CONGO GRASS SUPPLEMENTED WITH PALM KERNEL CAKE AND CASSAVA PEELS

This study evaluated nitrogen utilization by West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and two cultivars of Congo grass (Brachiaria mulato II and Brachiaria ruziziensis) supplemented with palm kernel cake (PKC) and cassava peels (CP). Sixteen (16) growing WAD bucks were assigned to four (4) dietary treatments in a completely randomized design: T1 (Guinea grass only), T2 (Brachiaria mulato II + 20% PKC + 20% CP), T3 (Congo grass + 20% PKC + 20% CP), and T4 (Guinea grass + 20% PKC + 20% CP). Proximate composition and nitrogen balance were determined using the Kjeldahl method. Results showed that supplemented diets (T2–T4) had higher crude protein (14.88–16.52%) compared to T1 (9.86%). Nitrogen intake was highest in T2 (2.62 g/day) and lowest in T1 (1.58 g/day). Faecal nitrogen was higher in T2–T4 (0.61–0.62 g/day) than T1 (0.51 g/day), while urinary nitrogen was highest in T3 (0.58 g/day). Nitrogen absorption, balance, and retention were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 (2.01 g/day, 1.60 g/day, 61.07%) compared to T1 (1.07 g/day, 0.69 g/day, 43.67%). It is concluded that T2 had better nitrogen utilization and therefore enhances protein bioavailability in WAD goats. It is therefore recommended that Brachiaria mulato II should be supplemented with PKC and cassava peels when fed to WAD goats to improve nitrogen economy and to support sustainable livestock production in resource-constrained settings.