EFFECT OF SORGHUM STOVER TREATED WITH UREA IN THE BODY WEIGHT AND SHANK LENGTH OF SOKOTO GOAT BREED.

mbshir ABSTRACT The trial was conducted for a period of 42 days to evaluate the effect of sorghum stover treated with urea on the body weight and shank length of Sokoto goat breed. A concentrate diet consisting of maize bran, wheat bran, rice milling waste, and salt was formulated to contain 15% crude protein. The animals were fed roughage diet ad libitum, while concentrate was fed at 1.5% of individual body weight. Data were collected on growth performance, and the data generated were subjected to analysis of variance using a completely randomized design. The results showed that there were significant differences in all the parameters measured. Total feed intake was significantly higher (21.407 kg) in animals fed urea-treated sorghum stover (USS) compared to those fed other diets. Similarly, average daily gain (0.279 kg) was higher in animals on the USS diet. Animals on the USS diet also recorded higher final weight gain (11.746 kg) compared to those on other diets, while the lowest shank length (9.474 kg) was recorded in animals on the alternative diet. The study recommended that urea-treated sorghum stover could be used as a sole roughage diet for goat feeding, as goats had higher weight gain and intake on the treated stover-based diet compared to those on the control diet without urea. The study further recommends that small-holder farmers adopt the treatment of sorghum stover with poultry waste to improve nutritive value and reduce the cost of feed per kg body weight.