The effect of feeding Marula seed cake as a protein supplement on the feed

intake and growth performance of Kalahari red goat at Neudamm campus.

Brian Giggs Turipuani Kandambo

Department of Animal Science,

Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Namibia

Correspondence Author: brian11kandambo@gmail.com

Abstract:

The study compares the effects of Marula seed cake (Sclerocarya birrea) and
Commercial pellets (Lamb pellets) as protein supplement on the feed intake and growth
performance of Kalahari Red weaned goats. Eight Kalahari red weaned kids were
randomly allocated to 1 of the 2 dietary treatments using a complete randomized block
design (CRBD) with sex being the blocking factor. The dietary treatments were (1)
control group fed a basal diet of grass hay, plus lamb pellets, (2) treatment group fed a
basal diet of grass hay plus Marula seed cake based pellets. The study was conducted for
52 day, whereby the kids adapted for 10 days and data were recorded for 42 days. The
results indicated that the was no significant (p>0.05) difference in average weekly intake
between the two treatments. Kids fed MSC pellets had a higher (p > 0.05) final body
weight and total weight gain than kids fed lamb pellets. The study indicated that there
was no significant difference in feed intake and growth performance of the Kalahari red
goat when supplemented with either Marula seed cake or lamb pellets.

Key words: Sclerocarya birrea; weight gain; average daily gain; feed conversion rate
Introduction:

Globally, the livestock sector is the most important agricultural sub-sector in terms of value-
added products (Ali, 2007). Approximately 300 million of the rural communities in the Sub-
Saharan Africa depend on livestock to sustain livelihoods (Thornton, 2010). During the dry
seasons the available grass becomes scarce, and it is low in protein. There is a need for research
of other high protein and affordable feed resources such as the Marula seed cake (Thornton,
2010) that can be used for supplementing ruminants. Marula trees (Sclerocarya birrea) are
abundant in the northern and north-eastern regions of Namibia and the fruit pulp is used for
brewing a traditional alcoholic drink locally known as Omaongo.

The supply of Marula fruits tends to be seasonal, with most ripe fruits falling between January
and April. The fruit is harvested from late December to mid-April. It is then separated into pulp
and nut. The nuts are dried prior to manual decortication. The kernels obtained after
decortication are heat treated at about 43oC for 2 hours before they are cold-pressed to extract
oil. Marula oil is processed into various profitable products for export. The protein-rich Marula
seed cake (MSC) becomes available from May. Although, MSC is currently of little economic
value it may be a low-cost and therefore a solution to protein malnutrition in smallholder-owned
livestock during the dry season. There is evidence that goat productivity, as measured by
conception rates, kid survival and kid growth rate, can be enhanced by protein supplementation
(Sikosana et al., 1990).

Objective of the study was to compare the effects of Marula seed cake (Sclerocarya birrea) and
Commercial pellets as protein supplement on the feed intake and growth performance of
Kalahari Red weaned goats.

Materials and Methods

Description of study sites

The study was done at the University of Namibia Neudamm Campus. The experiment was
conducted on the campus ground at the goat kraal where they are found. Neudamm Campus and
Farm is ± 30 kilometers east of Windhoek on the B1 road to Hosea Kutako International Airport
and the town of Gobabis. Neudamm farm has limited vegetation cover due to the aridity of the
region where it is located (Greunen, 2013). Vegetation cover is dominated by Acacia shrubs and
trees, such as A. erubescens and A. hereroensis, and short-lived annual grasses, such as
Stipagrostis and Enneapogon species, with weedy herb species on the stream banks (Gold, et al.,
2001). The average temperature and rainfall varies between 18 and 20˚C and 300-360mm
respectively (Mendelsohn, et al., 2002).

Feed ingredients and diet formulation

Feed ingredients such as the hay, salt and Senegalia mellifera were sourced from Neudamm
campus, Khomas region, Namibia. Marula seed cake was sourced from Eudafano women’s co-
operative, Oshana region, Namibia. The yellow maize meal, Molatek molasses and Ram-ewe-
lamb pellets were sourced from Windhoek Agra-retailer, Khomas region, Namibia.

Animals and animal management

The eight Kalahari kids (four males and four females) used in the study were sourced from
Neudamm campus, Khomas region, Namibia. The kids were ear-tagged for identification
purposes. Induction body weight was measured using a digital weighing scale (Sasco Africa)
after which the kids were allowed to adapt to the environment and dietary treatments for 10 days.
The kids had ad libitum access to feed and water. Each kid was housed individually in clean
disinfected pans (1.5 m length x 1 m width x 0.92 m height) with concrete floors in a well-
ventilated animal shed. Each pan was equipped with water and feed trough.

Experimental design

Eight weaned Kalahari red kids with a mean induction body weight of 19.4 kg were used. The
kids were randomly allocated to 2 dietary treatments using a Complete Randomized Block
Design (CRBD).The blocking factor in the experiment was the sex. (1) Control group that was
fed a basal diet of grass hay, plus Ram- ewe- lamb pellets as a protein supplement, (2) Second
group was fed a basal diet of grass hay plus formulated pellets that contain Marula seed cake as a
protein supplement. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times with each kid acting as an
experimental unit. The kids on the respective dietary treatments were fed for 52 days, 10 days
adaptation period and 42 days for data recording.
Body weight and feed intake measurements

Induction body weight (IBW) of each kid was measured prior to execution of the trail.
Thereafter, body weight was measured weekly. Feed intake (FI) of each kid was recorded daily
based on the amount of feed offered every morning and the refusals collected the following
morning before the next feeding. The amount of feed offered to each kid was adjusted every
week to cater for changes in body weight of the kid and to ensure that each kid continued to have
ad libitum access to feed. The total body weight gain (BWG) and average daily gain (ADG) of
each lamb were computed from their induction body weight. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of
each lamb was computed using the equation: feed conversion ratio = feed intake (g) / body
weight gain (g).

Chemical analysis of feed sample

MSC pellets, Lamb pellets and grass hay were milled to pass a 1 mm screen using a rotor mill.
Dry matter (DM) was estimated by drying samples in a forced air oven at 105°C for 24 hours.
Organic matter (OM) was estimated by ashing samples in a muffle furnace at 550°C for 6 hours.
Ether extract (EE) was determined using a Soxhlet apparatus with petroleum ether as a solvent
according to the method of AOAC (1999). Acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber was
determined using an ANKOM 200 fiber analyzer. Protein was determined by Dumas nitrogen
and total nitrogen content.

Data analysis

Data on feed intake and weight were entered in Microsoft excel then they transferred to SPSS
(Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was
performed using the general linear mixed effects model (GLMM). Residual analysis was done to
check if the assumptions of ANOVA were not grossly violated to compromise the
generalizations. One way ANOVA was used to analyze for chemical composition of the diets

The mathematical model for the GLM

Yijk=µ+τi+βj+Wk+εijk
Where: Yijk is the final weight of the ith treatment, jth sex with an inititial weight of Wk; µ is
the overall mean for the experiment; τi is the effect of the ith treatment; βj is the effect of the jth
sex (male female); εij is the random error term which is normally distribute with a zero mean;
Wk is the initial weight for animal k (covariate)

The repeated measures GLM will be used to compare weekly weights.

Results

Chemical composition of the diets

The chemical composition of MSC pellets and commercial pellets used in the trail are presented
in Table 1. In terms of DM content there was a significant difference (P< 0.05) between the two
diets, however the was no significant difference (P>0.05) regarding the OM, Ash, ADF, NDF
and CP content between the two diets. MSC pellets had a higher (P < 0.05) fat content than the
commercial pellets.

Table 1: Chemical composition of the diets

%Parameters Marula seed cake pellets Commercial pellets P-value SEM

Dry matter 92.1ₐ 90.5ₑ 0.008 0.237
Crude protein 17.0ₐ 14.3ₐ 0.055 0.711
Organic matter 91.5ₐ 79.1ₐ 0.082 3.806
Ash matter 8.5ₐ 20.9ₐ 0.802 3.814
Ether extract 14.9ₐ 4.5ₑ 0.014 1.737
Acid detergent fiber 14.7ₐ 13.7ₐ 0.247 0.553
Neutral detergent fiber 27.1ₐ 29.9ₐ 0.063 0.786
a,e
Means with different superscripts within rows are significantly different at P<0.05. SEM, standard
error of mean.
Dry matter intake and nutrient intake of the goats

Average intake data for DM, OM, ADF, NDF and CP are presented in the Table 7. Total DM
intake was lowest (P < 0.05) in animals that fed on MSC pellets, however goats fed on MSC
pellets increased (P < 0.05) OM intake than goats fed on Commercial pellets. There was no
significant difference (P > 0.05) in total ADF intake between the two dietary treatments. Goats
fed MSC pellets had the lowest (P < 0.05) total NDF intake. There was a significant difference
(P < 0.05) in terms of total CP intake.

Table 2: Dry matter intake and nutrient intake

Parameter Experiment Control P- SEM

group group value
Total dry matter intake (kg/d) 0.69ₐ 0.73ₑ 0.000 0.004
Total crude protein intake (kg/d) 0.14ₐ 0.12ₑ 0.001 0.003
Total organic matter intake (kg/d) 0.74ₐ 0.69ₑ 0.001 0.011
Total acid detergent fiber intake (kg/d) 0.12ₐ 0.12ₐ 0.609 0.002
Total neutral detergent fiber intake (kg/d) 0.23ₐ 0.25ₑ 0.000 0.004
a,e
Means with different superscripts within rows are significantly different at P<0.05. SEM,
standard error of mean.

Weekly feed intake

Findings from the study in Figure 1 show similarities (P > 0.05) in the weekly feed intake of the
two dietary treatments as there were no significant differences in weekly feed intake across all
six weeks for the two treatments. The average daily feed intake was 832.1g/d and 809.0g/d for
Commercial and MSC pellets supplemented feeds, respectively.
 Feed intake (kg/d)
1

0.5
Control

0 Experiment
1 2 3 4 5 6
Weeks

Figure 1: Weekly feed intake

Weekly live weight

Findings from the study in figure 2 reveal that there was similarities (P > 0.05) in weekly live
weight between the two treatments as there was no difference (P > 0.05) statistically. The
average daily gain was 115g/d and 82g/d for MSC pellets and commercial pellets respectively.

25
Live weight (kg)

24
23
22
21 Control
20
19 Experimental
18
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Weeks

Figure 2: Weekly live weight

Growth performance, Average daily intake (g/d), and Feed conversion ratio, feed conversion
efficiency, Total crude protein intake and protein conversion efficiency.

The growth performance data of the study is presented in Table 8. The experimental group had
the lowest (P > 0.05) initial weight while the control group had the lowest (P > 0.05) final
weight. The study findings reveal that there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in total
weight gain between the treatments. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the
two treatments in terms of Average daily intake (ADI), Average daily gain (ADG), Feed
conversion rate (FCR), Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and Protein conversion efficiency
(PCE).

Table 3: Growth performances; Average daily intake (g/d); Feed conversion ratio; feed
conversion efficiency; Total crude protein intake and protein conversion efficiency.

Parameter Experiment group Control group P-value SEM

Total dry matter intake (DMI) (kg/d) 0.69ₐ 0.73ₑ 0.000 0.004

Initial live weight (kg) 18.90ₐ 19.70ₐ 0.658 1.214

Final live weight (kg) 23.75ₐ 23.15ₐ 0.808 1.671

Total live weight gain (LWG) (kg) 4.85ₐ 3.45ₐ 0.602 0.282

Average live weight gain (g/day) 115.0ₐ 82.0ₐ 0.537 0.036

Average daily intake (g/day) 809.0ₐ 832.1ₐ 0.704 0.041

Feed conversion ratio 7.01ₐ 10.13ₐ 0.330 3.838

Feed conversion efficiency (DMI/LWG) 0.31ₐ 0.28ₐ 0.785 0.059

Total crude protein intake (CPI) (kg/d) 0.14ₐ 0.12ₑ 0.001 0.003

Protein conversion efficiency (CPI/LWG) 0.06ₐ 0.05ₐ 0.451 0.009

a,e
Means with different superscripts within rows are significantly different at P<0.05. SEM,
standard error of mean.
Discussion

Chemical composition of the diets

The MSC diet reported a %DM content of 92.1 which was lower than what was reported by
Malabena et al (2018) who reported a %DM content of 95.84. Commercial pellets %DM content
as 90.5 which is higher than the %DM content reported by Rahman et al (2014) which was 88.
MSC diet had a CP content of about 17% less than what was observed by Malabena et al (2018)
who reported 32.447%.
MSC diet had a OM content of 91.5% which is higher than (87%) reported by Mlambo et al
(2011), however %OM content is 79% which lower than (89%) observed by Rahman et al
(2014). Commercial diet reported an NDF content of 29.9% which was higher than (24%)
reported by Rahman et al (2014), while MSC diet reported ADF and NDF values of 14.7% and
27.1% respectively and hence these values where higher than what was reported by Mlambo et al
(2011) who reported 18% and 20.78% for ADF and NDF respectively, Malabena et al (2018)
reported 7.77% and 14.5% for ADF and NDF respectively.

Dry matter intake and nutrient intake

Total DM intake for the MSC diet is reported a 690g/d which higher than 473g/d reported by
Mlambo et al (2011) who concluded that groups supplemented with MSC had the lowest OM
intake (208g/d) but finding from the study disagree as MSC diet had the highest OM intake of
740g/d. Goats supplemented with MSC relatively took longer period to adapt to MSC compared
to the other treatment and this is results are in disagreement with the findings of Zhang et al.
(2007), who concluded that oilseed supplementation had no adverse effects on DM intake of
kids. DM intake of Commercial diet reported 730g/d which is lower than 880g/d that was
reported by Rahman et al. (2014). The MSC diet reported CP intake of 140g/d which was higher
than (59.91g/d) reported by Abdulrazak et al. (2005). While CP intake of the Commercial diet
reported 120g/d which higher than (96.83g/d) reported by Rahman et al. (2014). MSC diet
reported 120g/d and 250g/d for ADF intake and NDF intake respectively which was higher than
the fiber fraction reported by Mlambo et al. (2011) who reported 97.6g/d and 165.g/d for ADF
and NDF intake respectively,
Growth performances
There was no difference in terms of initial and final weight between the two treatments (18.90kg
– 19.70kg) and final weight (23.75kg – 23.15kg), hence there was no differences in total weight
gain (4.85 kg and 3.45 kg for MSC diet and Commercial diet respectively, the results are
similar with Rahman et al (2014) where both groups were not different with respect to initial
(22.1 – 23.0 kg) and final (28.6 – 303.3 kg), consequently there were no differences in body
weight gain between the two groups. Commercial diet reported ADG of 82.0g/d which is higher
than 45.0g/d reported by Saul (2007). FCR of the commercial diet was observed to be 10 which
was lower than what was observed by Rahman et al (2014) and FCR was reported to be 12 while
Saul (2007) reported 15.44 FCR.
Conclusion
There was no difference in the feed intake and growth performance of the Kalahari kids fed
either the lamb pellets or the Marula seed cake based pellets. The MSC-based diet, met the
nutritional requirements of the growing Kalahari goat kids.
Recommendations
The use of Marula seed cake (MSC) as a protein source is recommended as this is economical
compared to the use of soya bean meal which is not locally available. The use of Marula seed
cake would enable farmers to formulate their own cheaper rations and improve the profitability
of their goat enterprises. However, due to the current limitation of Marula seed cake supply, the
researcher recommend the use of 30% MSC, especially to commercial feed companies which use
large quantities of protein during feed production. Although the protein content of Marula seed
cake is high, the presence of lipids may limit its utilization due to detrimental effects of high
lipid level in feedstuffs. Thus a recommendation for the efficient extraction of oil from the seed
before the cake is used for ruminant nutrition. Those techniques efficient enough to extract the
highest proportion of oil would produce Marula seed cake with higher crude protein
concentration. It is also recommended that Marula trees should be cultivated and propagated in
order to increase the supply of MSC in Namibia.
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