Influence of graded levels of baobab oil seed cake on growth performance and enteric methane emissions in Savannah × Boer crossbreed yearling goats.

Abstract Background: The recent concern on the emission of methane from ruminant livestock that contributes to climate change has called for a search of feed ingredient that will mitigate the emission of this gas at the same time increase the growth performance of the animal. One of such feed ingredients could be baobab oil seed cake. This study therefore, investigate the effects of feeding graded levels of baobab oil seed cake (BOSC) on growth performance and enteric methane emissions of Savannah × Boer goats at yearling age.Methods: A total of 24 goats weighing 16.63 ± 3.639 kg were used in a completely randomized block design. The study was conducted for a period of 70 days, with an adaptation period of 14 days. The baobab oil seed cake was included in the diets at 0% (control diet), 15%, 30% and 45 % on a mass basis. The experimental diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. The parameters measured include the average daily feed intake (ADFI), body weight gain (BWG), and average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and enteric methane emissions using Laser methane detector (LMD).Results The inclusion of baobab oil seed cake (15%, 30%, and 45% BOSC) in goats’ diets significantly increased (P<0.05) (ADFI). Females in the current study gained more weight than males. It was observed that goats fed diets with 0% baobab oil cake emitted higher methane output (P<0.05). Methane emission decreased as the baobab inclusion levels in the diet increase (P<0.05). Female Savannah ´ Boer goat emitted more methane than male (P<0.05). Both sex and baobab oil cake inclusion levels contributed significantly to methane emissions individually and interactively. Conclusion: Inclusion of baobab oil seed cake in the diet improved growth performance and could also be used to mitigate methane production in Savannah × Boer crossbreed goats at a range of 15 to 45 % inclusion levels without causing any detrimental effects on the goats.’