ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of green maize husks, boiled maize husks ensiled with cassava leaves and peels with or without urea on the nitrogen and micro mineral utilization of 25 West African dwarf goats (initial weight 6 - 8.13 kg), which were assigned to five dietary treatments using completely randomized design. The 5 treatment diets formulated were T1 (50% GG, 30% CP, 20% CL), T2 (50% GMH, 30% CP, 20% CL), T3 (50% BMH, 30% CP, 20% CL), T4(50% GHM, 30% CP, 19% CL, 1% U) and T5(50% BMH, 30% CP, 19% CL, 1 U). A total of 84 days was used for the feeding trial while 2 weeks was used for digestibility trial in which faeces and urine were collected on a daily basis. The data collected for feed, faeces and urine during the experiment were analyzed using the procedure of R, version 4.3.0(2023). The ranges of micro minerals obtained were 46.06 - 75.22% Zn digestibility, 26.70 – 51.45 mg Zn balance, 39.72 - 64.93% Zn retention, 34.95 - 59.64% Cu digestibility, 1.158 - 2.627 mg Cu balance and 24.97 - 50.39% Cu retention, respectively.
