Resumen:
Fifteen 5-month-old Red Sokoto buck-kids, (6.6 0.71 kg body weight (BW)) randomly distributed into three groups
of five animals per group, were used to study the effects of supplementary concentrate partially replaced with
Piliostigma thonningii (PT) foliage on the growth performance, economic benefit and blood profile in a completely randomized
design using analysis of variance. The goats in group 1 received 100% supplementary concentrates (PT0),
groups 2 and 3 received 25% (PT25) and 50% (PT50), respectively, of concentrate replaced with an equal amount (dry
matter basis) of Piliostigma foliage. The goats were fed a basal diet of threshed sorghum top (TST). Intake of concentrate,
hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, total feeding cost and
cost/kg BW were greater (P < 0.05) for PT0 than for PT25 and PT50. Consumption of P. thonningii foliage was greater
(P < 0.05) for PT50 relative to PT25. Tannin consumption of the treatment diets were greater (P < 0.05) than that of
the control concentrate diet. Serum urea N reduced (P < 0.05) with increasing level of concentrate replacement, while
serum glucose was higher (P < 0.05) in PT0 than in PT50. However, means of all blood measurements were within
normal ranges for goats. Net benefit showed this rank order: PT0 < PT50 < PT25 (all P < 0.05). Both differential and
relative benefits were higher (P < 0.05) for PT25 than for PT50. P. thonningii foliage can replace 50% of supplemental
concentrate without impairing feed intake, growth performance and health of buck-kids.
