Intake and Blood Metabolites in red Sokoto Goats fed Elephant Grass and Cassava Peel Silage

Provision of quality silage during the dry season can greatly enhance productivity of ruminants in the tropics. This study which lasted for 16 weeks (28 Nov. 2009 – 20 Mar. 2010), aimed to assess the quality of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ensiled with cassava peel at four levels of inclusion (0, 10, 30 and 50%, wet basis), and performance of goats fed the silage mixtures. At 21 days, the silages were examined for physical properties, pH and proximate composition. Intake, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC) and blood glucose level in Red Sokoto goats were also measured. The colour, smell and texture of silage improved with increasing level of cassava peel in the mixture while the pH reduced. Dry matter (DM) intake of goats ranged from 2.55 to 3.09 % of body weight, and increased significantly (P < 0.05) as cassava peel in the silage increased. PCV, Hb, and WBC values in goats fed silage with added cassava peel were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from those fed elephant grass silage. RBC count ranged from 14.57 to 16.11 × 1012/L and serum glucose level from 2.44 to 3.09 mmol/L. These values were within the limits for normal goats and increased as proportion of cassava peel in the silage increased. Addition of cassava peel to elephant grass improved the physical attributes of the silage, increased DM intake, maintained normal health and enhanced blood glucose levels in goats fed the mixed silages. These results show that elephant grass and cassava peel can provide quality silage for improved goat production in the tropics when forage is scarce.