Silage quality, growth performance and haematology of West African dwarf goats fed Moringa oleifera leaves ensiled with cassava peels

Forage scarcity in the dry season is challenging for ruminant production in the tropics. The utilization of browse species, particularly as silage can bridge this gap. In this study, the potentials of Moringa oleifera leaves ensiled with varying levels of cassava peels as dry season feed for West African dwarf (WAD) goats were assessed. Different mixtures of Moringa oleifera leaves and cassava peels were ensiled and designated as follows: T1= 100% Moringa, T2= 60% Moringa + 40% Cassava peels, T3= 40% Moringa + 60% Cassava peels, T4= 50% Moringa + 50% Cassava peels, T5= 100% Cassava peels. Chemical composition and silage characteristics were investigated. Twenty five WAD goats with average body weights of 6.02±0.71 kg were used in the growth study that lasted 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected from the goats through the jugular vein for haematological status at the beginning and end of the experiment. Chemical composition of the silage diets showed that it contained 27.79 – 36.26 % dry matter (DM), 7.45 – 22.25 % crude protein (CP), 8.92 – 16.45 % crude fibre (CF), 2.55 – 7.01 % ether extract (EE), 6.10 – 10.08 % ash content, 42.40 - 68.14 % Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE). Appearance, odour and texture of the silage had acceptable physical attributes with pH values ranging from 3.53 – 5.80. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and Feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not significantly (P<0.05) affected by diets while Average daily weight gain (ADWG) was significantly improved in T3 (40% M. oleifera + 60% cassava peels) than in others. White blood cells (WBC) ranged from 5.88 x109/L in T2 to 13.77 x109/L in T4. Red blood Cells (RBC) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV %) were not significantly (P<0.05) affected by diets. It was concluded that Moringa oleifera leaves and cassava peels silage with 40% Moringa oleifera as additive elicited the best performance indices in WAD goats fed diets consisting of mixtures of Moringa oleifera leaves and cassava peels ensiled together in graded levels or alone and did not affect animals negatively in terms of their haematological components.     Moringa, T2= 60% Moringa + 40% Pelures de manioc, T3= 40% Moringa + 60% Pelures de manioc, T4= 50% Moringa + 50% Pelures de manioc, T5= 100% Pelures de manioc. Des caracteristiques chimiques de composition et d'ensilage ont ete etudiees. Vingt-cinq chevres 'WAD' avec un poids corporel moyen de 6,02±0,71 kg ont ete utilisees dans l'etude de croissance qui a dure 12 semaines. Des echantillons de sang ont ete preleves sur les chevres par la veine jugulaire pour le statut hematologique au debut et a la fin de l'experience. La composition chimique des regimes d'ensilage a montre qu'elle contenait 27.79 – 36,26 % de matiere seche (DM), 7.45 a 22.25 % de proteines brutes (CP), 8.45 a 22.25 % de proteines brutes (le 'CP'), 8.45 92 – 16.45 % de fibres brutes (le 'CF'), 2.55 a 7.01 % d'extrait d'ether (le 'EE'), 6.10 a 10.08 % de cendres, 42.40 - 68.14 % Extrait sans azote (le 'NFE'). L'apparence, l'odeur et la texture de l'ensilage avaient des attributs physiques acceptables avec des valeurs de pH allant de 3.53 a 5.80. L'apport quotidien moyen en aliments (le 'ADFI') et le ratio de conversion des aliments pour animaux (le 'FCR') n'ont pas ete significativement (P<0.05) affectes par les regimes alimentaires, tandis que le gain quotidien moyen de poids (le 'ADWG') a ete sensiblement ameliore en T3 (40 % M. oleifera + 60 % de pelures de manioc) que dans d'autres. Les globules blancs (le 'WBC') allaient de 5,88 x109/L en T2 a 13.77 x109/L en T4. Les globules rouges (le 'RBC') et volume de cellules emballees (le 'PCV' %) n'ont pas ete significativement (P<0.05) affectes par les regimes. On a conclu que les feuilles de Moringaoleifera et l'ensilage des pelures de manioc avec 40 % de Moringaoleifera comme additif ont obtenu les meilleurs indices de performance chez les chevres WAD nourries a des regimes composes de melanges de feuilles de Moringaoleifera et de pelures de manioc ensilees ensemble ou seuls et n'affectaient pas negativement les animaux en termes de composantes hematologiques.