JASFT-Abstract

Efficiency and Cost-Benefits of Fattening Goats on Varying Levels of Maize Bran with Groundnut Haulms as Basal Diet

Babale D.M., Mbahi, T.F., Yahaya, M.S.,. and J. D.Daniel

 

Full Length Research Paper  I Published May,2018

 

Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology  Vol. 4 (3), pp.46-51

 

ABSTRACT

 

Efficiency and cost-benefits of feeding varying levels of Maize bran with Groundnut haulms as basal diet were determined. Twelve (12) West African Dwarf bucks aged 12 months and average live weights of 14Kg were fed for 70 days experimental period. Parameters determined were daily feed intakes, daily weight changes, and daily costs of labour, drugs feeds and water, revenue was generated from sales of fattened animals and dung. Data obtained were subjected to net farm income (NFI) analysis. The efficiency of feed utilization was measured by the dry matter intakes, weight changes, feed intakes as a percentage of live weight, feed efficiency, cost per weight gain, net return on investment and return per investment. The findings revealed that dry matter intakes for treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4 were 488g, 475g, 618g and 427g with dry matter intakes as a percentage of the live weight of 3.38, 3.35, 3.76 and 2.56 in that order. Average daily weight gains per treatment were 63g, 76g, 88g, and 95g for T1, T2, T3, and T4 respectively. This gave the feed efficiencies of 12.96, 16.00, 14.30 and 22.23 for all the treatments in that order. While returns per unit investment were found to be 1.29, 1.23, 1.22 and 1.23 for treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The economic analysis of the research showed a net farm income of N1227.83 per head of the animals which implies that the experiment was a profitable venture. The analysis also indicated that for every one Naira invested into the research a profit of 30 kobo was made.  The highest turnover was obtained with the control diet being groundnut haulms only. However, the economic efficiency of production was found to decrease with an increase in the level of maize bran inclusion in the diet. It is concluded that groundnut haulms alone could be economically used in feeding fattening of goats, especially in lean periods to check dry season weight losses.


Key Words: Goats, Fattening, Efficiency, Cost-benefit, Analysis.

 

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