INFLUENCE OF BODY WEIGHT AND METHODS OF CASTRATION ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF SAVANNA BROWN GOATS

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the influence of castration methods on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of Savanna Brown goats. 24 animals were allocated to six treatment groups on weight bases. Each treatment contained four animals with two replicates and two animals per replicate. Treatment 1(T1) contained goats weighing 4-8 kg, non-castrates; Treatment 2(T2) contained goats weighing 0-4 kg castrates (open castration–surgical); Treatment 3(T3) were goats weighing 4-8 kg castrates (close castration-burdizzo); Treatment 4(T4) were goats weighing 8-12 kg castrates (open castration-surgical); Treatment 5(T5) were goats weighing 8-12 kg castrates (close castration-burdizzo) and Treatment 6(T6) were goats weighing 8-12 kg non-castrates. Digestibility trial was conducted at the end of the feeding trial that lasted for 14 weeks. During digestibility determination, 12 goats were transferred to metabolism cages. After three days of adaptation in the metabolism cages, faeces were collected for a period of seven days and analyzed to determine nutrient digestibility. Results obtained revealed that there were significant (p<0.05) differences in the initial and final body weights due to the different weight ranges; the total weight gain, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not significant among the treatments. Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed in total feed intake and average daily feed intake. Results also show that there was a significant (P<0.05) difference between open, close and the non castrates in dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ash, fat and nitrogen free extract digestibility It can be inferred that castration had no significant effect on the growth performance of Savanna Brown goats, while the nutrient digestibility was significantly affected by the castration methods.