MINERALANDVITAMINCOMPONENTOFMILKFROM WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOAT OFFERED THE COMBINATIONS OF PAWPAW LEAF, SCENT LEAF AND BITTER LEAF AS PHYTO ADDITIVES

ABSTRACT The study examines the nutritional impact of feeding West African Dwarf Goats a diet enriched with phyto additives: pawpaw, scent, and bitter leaves. The project aimed to assess the mineral and vitamin components of milk from West African Dwarf goats offered the combination of these phyto additives, exploring whether the additions could improve the nutritional quality of the milk. Three treatments were administered: one combining pawpaw and scent leaves, a second with pawpaw and bitter leaves, and a control diet without any phyto additives. The experimental design involved feeding these diets to goats and analyzing their milk for vitamin and mineral content. The study found significant differences across the three treatments in terms of milk composition. The milk from goats fed the diet combiningpawpaw and scent leaves (T1) showed notably higher levels of essential nutrients compared to the control group. For instance, the crude protein content in T1 was highest among all groups, indicating a synergistic effect of pawpaw and scent leaves in enhancing protein availability. Key vitamins such as A, B1, B2, B3, and C were present in significantly higher quantitiesinthemilkfromT1,withvitaminAlevelsreaching29.02µg/mlcomparedto 26.20 µg/ml in the control. This increase in vitamin content highlights the potential of these leaves to enrich milk with critical nutrients beneficial for human health, such as vision support and immune function. Mineral analysis also underscored the advantages of phyto additives. Calcium, sodium, and potassium levels weresignificantlyelevatedin milk from goats on thepawpaw and scent leaf diet.Forinstance,calciumconcentrationwashighestinT1at137.0mg/100ml,comparedto 125.06 mg/100 ml in the control. The enhanced mineral profile is particularly beneficial for consumers,asitcontributestobonehealth,electrolytebalance,andmetabolicprocesses.The high mineral content in T1 can be attributed to the nutrient-rich composition of both pawpaw and scent leaves, known for their high calcium and phosphorus content. Overall, the study concludes that incorporating pawpaw, scent, and bitter leaves as dietary additives in goat feed enhances the nutritional quality of milk, making it a viable option for improving goat milk production, especially in resource-limited settings. These findings suggest that pawpaw and scent leaves, in particular, hold potential as natural and cost- effectivefeed supplements, supportinganimal health, productivity, and the nutritional quality of milk. This strategy is environmentally sustainable and may provide smallholder farmers with an accessible means to enhance milk quality, thereby meeting growing consumer demands for nutrient-rich animal products.