The nutritive value of zizyphus spina-christi (l.) wild. leaves to goats in the semi-arid area of Kalu District, South Wello, Ethiopia

Abstract

Fifteen yearling goats weighing an average 18.7 kg were used to evaluate the potential of Zizyphus spina-christi leaves as supplement to growing goats fed on Cynodon dacty/on grass, in Cheleka catchments. South Wello, Ethiopia. Animals were randomly assigned to five feeding treatments and individually stall-fed for a preliminary period of 14 days. This was followed by 14 days of feeding to determine dry matter intake and digestibility. and a 3-month of feeding to determine body weight change. The treatments were formulated based on leaves: grass ratios of: 0: 100, 25:75. 50:50. 75:25 and 100:0% referred as treatments. I. II. III. IV. and V. respectively. Completely randomized design (CRD) and General Statistical (Gensat) package was used during the experiment and analysis of data. Leaf biomass of Zizyphus spina-christi was quantified using crown covers and stem diameters as independent variables. The nutritional characteristics of Zizyphus spina-christi leaves and Cynodon dacty/on grass were determined and the Zizyphus spina-christi leaves showed higher crude protein and lower fibre content. Daily dry matter intake. digestibility and body weight gain increased (P < 0.05) with increase in level of supplementary diet of Zizyphus spina-christi leaves. However, there were no significant differences (P>O.05) between treatment IV and V on intake, digestibility and body weight gain. Thus, Zizyphus spina-christi leaves is a potential feed supplement to growing goat fed on Cynodon dactylon grass in the dry season, as the dry season grasses are deficient in the required nutrients and cannot meet goat's requirements. From existing data of leaf biomass and nutritional values of Zizyphus spina-christi leaves, it could be therefore concluded that its leaves could replace conventional supplements, which are expensive and not easily available locally to provide protein supplements for growing ruminants like goats. This would reduce some of the major feed