Effect of Feeding Sorgum Haylage (Plant) Supplemented with Concentrate on Growth Performance and Sensory Evaluation on West African Dwarf Bucks.

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> This study evaluated the effects of supplementing sorghum haylage with different concentrate levels on the growth performance and sensory characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. The experiment involved four treatment groups: T1 (100% haylage), T2 (70% haylage + 30% concentrate), T3 (50% haylage + 50% concentrate), and T4 (30% haylage + 70% concentrate). The results demonstrated that concentrate supplementation significantly improved growth performance, with the highest final weight (11.54 kg) and average daily gain (53.26 g/day) observed in T2. This improvement was attributed to the higher energy and protein content in the concentrate, which complemented the low protein content of sorghum haylage. Conversely, the over-supplementation of concentrate in T4 resulted in lower growth performance, highlighting the importance of optimizing concentrate levels for efficient growth. Sensory evaluation of the meat also revealed that bucks in T2 had superior sensory attributes, including juiciness, flavor intensity, and overall acceptability, compared to those in T1 and T4. These results suggest that moderate concentrate supplementation (30%) not only enhances growth but also improves meat quality. The findings are consistent with previous studies indicating that concentrate supplementation improves feed utilization, growth rates, and meat quality in small ruminants. This study supports the use of strategic concentrate supplementation as a viable strategy for improving the productivity and profitability of WAD goats, especially in areas with limited grazing resources. Further research is recommended to evaluate the long-term effects of such feeding strategies. Keywords: Sorghum haylage, concentrate supplementation, growth performance, West African Dwarf goats, sensory evaluation