The effect of Opuntia ficus indica and forage legumes based diets on goat productivity in smallholder sector in Zimbabwe

Nutrition is a major component in livestock production. The use of alternative feed resources which are adaptive to long dry seasons is important. A study was conducted to establish options of improving nutrition, palatability and to determine the performance of goats fed on cactus-browse hay as dry season supplements. Sixteen castrated goats were housed in individual metabolism cages for sixty-three days in a randomised design with four replicates for the four treatment diets. The experimental and basal diet intakes were measured daily while live weights were taken weekly. Daily feed intakes measured were significantly different (p < 0.05) among treatments. Kids that were supplemented with Cactus-Leucaena leucocephala meal (CACT-LL) consumed more than those on Cactus-Acacia angusitissima meal (CACT-AA) and Cactus-Macroptilium atropurpureum meal (CACT-MA) but not significantly different from the commercial growers meal. Pennisetum purpureum (bana) grass hay was offered as basal diet. It was observed that all diets were readily palatable. However, the commercial diet had significantly higher basal diet intake compared to other experimental diets. Average daily weight gains were higher in CACT-LL and commercial diet. Moreover, all treatment diets led to increased growth rates and live-mass gains in goats. Animals that were given commercial diet and CACT-LL performed better than those supplemented with CACT-AA and CACT-MA. The weights were significantly different. Fresh cactus can be mixed with different browse legume hay and provide cover for dry season quality feed deficit and at the same time improve growth rate and overall weight gain. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.