GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF YANKASA RAMS FED RAW AND BOILED BOABAB (Adansonia digitata) SEED MEAL

Abstract

The investigation was conducted at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Teaching and Research station, Munjibur, Munjibir Local Government Area, Kano State over an 84-day period using twenty-five (25) Yankasa rams of similar weight that ranged between 14.40 to 14.97kg. The experimental animals were quarantined for two (2) weeks. They were grouped to achieve a mean weight that was not significantly different (P>0.05) across the groups and randomly allocated to treatments 1(0% raw and boiled baobab seed meal), 2 (10% raw baobab seed meal), 3 (20% raw baobab seed meal), 4 (10% boiled baobab seed meal and 5 (20% boiled baobab seed meal) in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Each treatment consisted of five (5) experimental animals with each of them serving as a replicate. Data collected were statistically analysed with SPSS package and then means separated with the use of Duncan Multiple range test. The Results indicated that inclusion of raw and boiled seed meal in the experimental diets did not have any negative impact on the proximate composition and crude fibre fraction of the diets. The total weight gain and daily weight gain did not show significant (P>0.05) difference across the treatment groups. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR), cost of feed per kilogram and cost per kg live-weight gain were significantly better (P<0.05) in T3 and T5. However, T3 showed better prospect with FCR (11.08), cost of feed per kilogram (N233.70) and cost per kg live-weight gain (122.48). The study concluded that either raw baobab seed meal can be included in the diets of ram for up to 20%.