Effect of browse plants’ formulated feed on rumen microbial population and growth performance of Red Sokoto goat breed (Capra aegagrus hircus)

Abstract

Thisresearch appraisedtheeffect of browse Plantsformulated feedonrumen microbial population and the animal performance of Red Sokoto goat for 14 weeks. Eightbrowseplants;Acacia alibido, Piliostigma thonnigi, Teminalia jigosona, Vitellaria paradoxa, Afzelia africana, Detarium microcarpum, Daniellia oliveri and Khaya senegalensis were pre-screened for itsphytochemical compositionout of which four Afzelia africana, Detarium microcarpum,Daniellia oliveri and Khaya senegalensis were selected and used to formulatethe animaldiets.Three groups of goats were assigned to each of the browse plant diets, while the control group was placed on a basal dietonly. Rumen liquorwerecollected from the goatsintermittently for three periods,and analyzed for microbial population. The results showed that browse plant formulated feedhave a significanteffect(p > 0.05) on the populationof the rumen microbes. Significant (p < 0.05) reductions in fungal count wasrecordedin all the formulated diets treatments except the control diets. Besides,significant (p < 0.05)higher concentration was recorded in Protozoa and Bacteriacount in all treatments except the control diets. Significant growth performances of 28.2%, 28.2%,28.0%and 26.2%were recorded for T2, T3,T1and T4, consecutively, relativeto 15.8% in the control (T5).Overall, this study demonstrated that browse plant feedis ableto significantly improve animal performance and as well,alter the microbial popullationinruminant animals.