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Effect of varying levels of garlic (Allium sativum) powder on growth, apparent nutrient digestibility, rumen ecology, blood profile and cost analysis of feeding West African Dwarf goats

Ikyume¹*, T.T., Sowande², O.S., Dele³, P.A., Yusuf², A.O., Monday², S., Egunjobi², O.K. and Fatoba², O.

¹Department of Animal Production, College of Animal Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria,
²Department of Animal Production and Health, ³Department of Pasture and Range Management, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2017 20(2): 61-74

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The study was designed to investigate the feeding effect of garlic powder supplementation on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, rumen micro organisms and blood profile of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. For this purpose, 20 WAD bucks with mean average weight of  6.92�0.02 kg were  balanced for weight and assigned to 4 treatment groups, i.e., Control, GP0.5 (0.5%/100 kg garlic powder supplementation), GP1.0 (1.0%/100 kg garlic powder supplementation), GP1.5 (1.5%/100 kg garlic powder supplementation). Animals were managed in individual pens and fed Panicum maximum as basal diet and concentrate (Treatment diet) at ratio 70:30 for 98 d after 21 d period of acclimatization. Results of this study showed that final weight, daily weight gain, concentrate intake, grass intake, total feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by inclusion of garlic powder up to 1.5%. Crude protein digestibility significantly (p<0.05) decreased with increased garlic powder supplementation. DM, CF, EE, Ash, NDF and ADF were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by garlic powder supplementation. Rumen pH and NH3-N were significantly (p<0.05) affected by garlic powder supplementation. TVFA, acetate (A), butyrate (B) propionate (P) and A:P ratio were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by garlic powder supplementation. Garlic powder had inhibition effect on gram positive bacteria. Also haematological parameters measured in this study were not significantly (p>0.05) different with garlic powder supplementation. Total protein (TP), glucose and albumin decreased significantly (p<0.05) with higher levels of garlic powder supplementation. Findings of this present study reveal that garlic powder supplementation up to 1.5% in concentrate diet did not exert any adverse effect on performance of WAD goats.