Effect of Combined Levels of Panicum maximum and Gliricidia sepium on Nutrient Digestibilities and Utilization by West African Dwarf Goats Fed Cassava Offal Based Concentrate

West African Dwarf (WAD) does were used to investigate the effect of combined levels of mixed forages on the utilization of cassava offal based diets. Thirty goats weighing between 5.82 and 5.92 kg and with ages from 4-7 months were assigned to 5 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design experiment with 6 animals per treatment. Animals were housed in individual pens and offered the experimental diet daily for 98 days. The 5 dietary treatments were: G 0: 100% Panicum maximum + concentrate; G 25: 75% P. maximum + 25% Gliricidia sepium + concentrate; G50: 50% P. maximum + 50% G. sepium + concentrate; G 75: 25% P. maximum + 75% G. sepium + concentrate and G 100: 100% G. sepium + concentrate. Feed intake, growth rate, digestibility and nitrogen balance were monitored. The highest daily total DMI (547.65 g DM day 1) was recorded in G0 and the values were significantly (p<0.05) different among treatment means. DM, CP NDF, ADF and ADL intake (g kg0.75day 1) were (p<0.05) significantly different among treatment means. Animals fed G 75 and G 100 had the highest weight gains. The apparent digestibilities of DM, CP, NDF and ADL were generally high in all treatment groups but were highest in G 100. Nitrogen balance was highest for G 100, but the percentage of N retained w as highest for G 50. Results indicated that feeding G. sepium together with P. maximum, supplemented with cassava offal based concentrate could lead to improved weight gain, feed efficiency, digestibility and nitrogen utilization in WAD goats.