Effect of feeding selected farm residues on growth performance, digestibility and nitrogen balance of West African dwarf bucks

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of feeding selected farm residues on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen balance of West African dwarf (WAD) bucks. A total of 16 bucks aged 16–18 months and weighing 14.45 ± 0.78 kg were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments: control, cacao pod shells (T1); peanut shells (T2), corn cobs (T3), and mixed residues of cacao pod shells, peanut shells, and corn cobs in equal proportions (T4). This study spanned 92 days, during which feed intake, weight gain, digestibility, and nitrogen utilisation were evaluated. The T2 diet significantly enhanced growth performance, with the highest final weight (19.8 ± 0.20 kg), weight gain (5.30 ± 0.15 kg), and average daily gain (57.6 ± 1.2 g/day). The nutrient intake and digestibility were also highest in the T2 group, with a crude protein intake of 131 g/day and crude protein digestibility of 78.2%. Similarly, nitrogen retention was greatest in T2 bucks (13.7 ± 0.4 g/day), reflecting efficient protein utilisation. The findings suggest that peanut shells are a highly digestible and nutrient-rich feed resource, offering significant advantages over the control and other treatments. By improving growth rates, feed efficiency, and nitrogen balance, peanut shells provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution for smallholder farmers facing feed shortages. These results support the adoption of farm residues as alternative feed resources to enhance the productivity and economic viability of small ruminant farming systems in West Africa.