Effects of varying dietary zinc levels on energy and nitrogen utilization in West African dwarf kids

Zinc is an essential dietary mineral for growth and pregnancy in livestock. However, its requirement for indigenous livestock has not been given adequate attention. Therefore, zinc requirement for energy and nitrogen utilization in West African dwarf (WAD) kid was investigated. Forage crops and commercial rations from four different feed mills, were analyzed to provide baseline zinc levels to which goats were exposed. Twenty-one weaned WAD female kids, aged 5-6 months and weighing 4.8-5.6kg were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments and were further replicated three times. in a completely randomized design. Animals were transferred to individual metabolic cages for separate collection of feaces and urine 14 and 15 weeks later. Parameters determined were dry matter intake (DMI), energy utilization and nitrogen utilization. The mean±SE of Panicum maximum , Andropogon gayanus , Pennisetum purpureum , Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium , contained 31.2±5.0; 29.1± 3.0;34.6± 6.0; 45.0± 5.0 and 47.1± 4.0mg Zn/kg DM respectively. Growing WAD kids fed 134.0 mg/kg DM had significantly (p