Corresponding auther: Timothy Tertsegha Ikyume, E.mail: ikyumett@uam.edu.ng, Tel. +234(0)8135149131.
(Received 11/02/2020, accepted 29/03/2020)
DOI. 10.21608/ejvs.2020.23856.1151
©2020 National Information and Documentation Centre (NIDOC)
Introduction
The semi-intensive system has been reported to be
the most common system of production for West
African Dwarf (WAD) goats in most part of sub-
Saharan Africa [1], with improved performance
when compared to the extensive system and less
labour input in comparison to intensive system.
Given the above scenario, it cannot be said that
this system is without challenges. One of such
challenges is the poor quality of the forages these
animals graze given that they become lignifed as
the season progresses from the rainy to the dry
seasons.. This has posed to be a challenge on
the performance of the animals. Devendra [2]
Rumen Metabolites and Microbiome of Semi-intensively Managed
West African Dwarf Goats Supplemented Concentrate Diet of
Varying Levels of Sodium Humate
T. T. Ikyume
1,3
* A. O. Oni
2
, A. O. Yusuf
3
, O. S. Sowande
3
, and S. Adegbehin
3
,
1
Department of Animal Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi,
P.M.B. 2373, Nigeria
2
Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,
P. M. B. 2240, Nigeria
3
Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta, P. M. B. 2240, Nigeria
Egypt. J. Vet. Sci. Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 263-270 (2020)
Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences
https://ejvs.journals.ekb.eg/
29
has reported that the cause of low production
rate from local goats is primarily due to poor
feeding practices and lack of intensifcation of
the production system have reported it. Feeding
practices aimed at improving the utilization of
these forages will help to improve the performance
of the animals.
Poor quality forages such as mature grass, may
be improved by physical, chemical or biological
treatment. One of such procedure is supplementing
with feed materials that will modify the rumen
environment in order to improve utilization of the
forages. Extensive research has been performed
on the effectiveness of feed supplements that
P
OOR quality forages such as mature grass could be improved by physical, chemical and
biological treatment. One of such procedure is supplementing with feed that will modify
the rumen environment to improve forage utilization. A 90-day study was conducted to ex-
amine the rumen ecology of semi-intensively raised West African Dwarf (WAD) goats fed
supplemented concentrate diet containing incremental levels of sodium humate. The thirty (30)
WAD bucks (age 10-15 months) used in this study were randomly assigned to fve dietary treat-
ments containing 0, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 g/kg diet of sodium humate in a completely randomized
design. Data were obtained on rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids (VFA)
and some of their various proportions (Acetate, propionate and butyrate), protozoa, fungi and
bacteria counts and were statistically analysed using the GLM procedure of SPSS (version 23).
Results revealed that pH, NH3-N, and fungi count were affected (p<0.05) by the inclusion of
sodium humate in the diets. However, volatile fatty acids and the various proportions, protozoa
and bacteria counts were not affected (p>0.05) by the inclusion of sodium humate in the diets.
It was concluded that sodium humate could be used in the diet of semi-intensively managed
WAD goats to stabilize the rumen pH and that levels up to 10 g/kg diet could be utilized to
improve fungi count.
Keywords: WAD goats, Sodium humate, pH, VFA, Microbial count.