TITLE:
PERFORMANCE AND REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF DOES FED DRIED OKRA (Abelmoscus esculentus) FRUITS AND LEAVES
NAME: AJEWOLE, IFEBUKOLA TOLULOPE
MATRIC NUMBER: PG15/0660
SESSION OF ADMISSION: 2015/2016
PROGRAMME: LIVESTOCK SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
CENTRE: CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
DEGREE AWARDED M. AgSE
DATE OF DEFENCE 23RD OCTOBER, 2018
ABSTRACT
Reproductive inefficiency and inability to maximize production potential which results in low supply of animal protein is one of the major challenges in livestock production especially with the continuous growing population and this can be alleviated by improving the reproductive potential of indigenous livestock such as goats. This study evaluated the performance and reproductive characteristics of West African Dwarf does fed dried okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) fruits and leaves. A total of sixteen (16) does with mean body weight of 17.5±5 kg were allotted by weight to four dietary treatments formulated to contain 0 % dried okra fruits and leaves (D), 3 % dried okra leaves (DL), 3 % dried okra fruits (DF), and 3 % dried okra fruits and leaves (DLF) in ratio 1:1 for a period of twenty-eight weeks. Does were synchronized using PGF2 alpha injection (Lutalyse®) and then mated using four Kalahari red bucks (one buck per group). Blood samples were collected before synchronization and at the end of each trimester for hormonal analysis and data on performance and reproductive indices taken were subjected to One-Way Analysis of Variance using in a Completely Randomized Design. The results obtained from the study revealed that dietary treatments significantly influenced average daily intake which was highest in D (783.8 gday-1) and lowest in DF (744.9 gday-1) and had no effect (p>0.05) on daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio of does. No significant (p>0.05) difference was observed in birth weight, litter weight and litter size. Diet containing dried okra leaves had significantly (p<0.05) highest weight distribution for female kids (1.64 kg), diets containing dried okra fruits (DF) had highest prolificacy (2.25) and kidding rate (225 %). Diet containing dried okra leaves had significantly highest (p<0.05) estradiol concentration (7.93 pg/mL) in the second trimester while DF (3.69 ng/mL) and DLF (3.63 ng/mL) had highest (p<0.05) progesterone and D (3.16 ng/mL) had lowest concentration prior to parturition. The study concluded that dried okra fruits and leaves did not significantly influence performance of WAD doe, enhanced prolificacy and kidding rate and inclusion of okra with or without the leaves increased progesterone concentration prior to kidding.
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