EFFECT OF MOLASSES INCLUSION ON THE ACCEPTABILITY OF MILLET HULL-POULTRY LITTER DIETS BY WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS

This study evaluated the effect of graded levels of molasses on the acceptability of millet hull-poultry litter diets by West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. The experiment was conducted at the Federal University Wukari Teaching and Research Farm, Taraba State, Nigeria. Twelve clinically healthy WAD buck kids were used in a 14-day cafeteria trial to assess feed preference. Three diets consisting of millet hulls and poultry litter at a ratio of 60:40 were formulated with different molasses inclusion levels: 0% (T1), 5% (T2), and 10% (T3). One kilogram of each diet was offered daily in separate troughs, and feed intake was determined by the difference between feed offered and refusals. The coefficient of preference (CoP) was calculated to determine diet acceptability. The results showed significant (P < 0.001) differences in feed intake and CoP among treatments. Average daily intake increased with increasing molasses inclusion, with T3 recording the highest intake (1337 ± 38.5 g/day), followed by T2 (1027 ± 42.1 g/day), while T1 had the lowest intake (398 ± 15.7 g/day). Similarly, CoP values were highest in T3 (1.45), intermediate in T2 (1.12), and lowest in T1 (0.43). Diets with CoP values greater than one were considered acceptable. Therefore, diets containing 5% and 10% molasses were accepted by the goats, whereas the diet without molasses was rejected. The findings indicate that molasses effectively enhances the palatability and acceptance of millet hull–poultry litter diets and can facilitate the utilization of unconventional feed resources in small ruminant nutrition.