Feed intake, morphological characteristics and economics of production of Red Sokoto goats fed urea treated ensiled cowpea husk based diets

Body dimension measurements have been used in estimating body weight and appropriate pricing of meat animals. Thus, 18 healthy intact growing Red Sokoto male goats, with 13.4±0.59 kg body weight (BW), were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate the inclusion rates of urea treated ensiled cowpea husk (UECH) at 0, 35 and 70% to replace 0, 50 and 100% of dried brewers' grains (DBG) on voluntary intake, body weight, morphological and testicular characteristics, and economics of production for 70 d. Daily intakes of dry matter (g/d and % BW), crude protein, organic matter, nitrogen free extract, neutral detergent fibre and lignin were not (p>0.05) affected by diets. Whereas intakes of ether extract and hemicellulose progressively decreased (p<0.05), intakes of cellulose and mineral contrastingly increased (p<005) with increasing UECH replacement for DBG. Intake of acid detergent fibre was greater (p<0.05) for the treatment diets relative to the control diet. Diet effects on the body weight, linear body measurements and testicular morphology of the goats were marginal (p>0.05), except for initial scrotal length which was markedly (p<0.05) affected. Cost of feeding declined with the increasing UECH rate in the diet. Cost of feed consumed/goat and cost of feeding/kg BW gain were higher (p<0.05) for the control diet than for the treatment diets. In contrast to savings on cost of feeding which was higher (p<0.05) for 70%UECHthan 35%UECH, differential and relative benefitswere outstanding (p<0.05) for 35%UECH. Value of chevon and net benefitwere greater (p<0.05) for 35% UECH relative to 0 and 70% UECH. These findings suggest that UECH can be safely used up to 70% level in a concentrate mixture for growing goats, completely substituting dried brewers' grains, without depressing voluntary intake, body weight, morphological and testicular parameters, and improve economic benefits to farmers. However, for better economic returns, 35%UECHis superior to70%UECH.