Rumen Microbiology of West African Dwarf Goats Fed Cassava Peels-Based Diets with Varying Levels of Leucaena leucocephala

Background and Objective: In Nigeria, Leucaena leucocephala is a significant source of goat feed. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets were formulated for L. leucocephala to determine the effect of a diet containing L. leucocephala with varying levels (0, 5, 10 and 15%) on the rumen microbial count of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats in southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The 70 day trial consisted of four inclusion levels with four replicates making a total of 16 treatments with four WAD goats weighing 6.50±0.06 kg per treatment. Animals in each treatment were served wilted Panicum maximum cv Jacq. On the final day of the experiment, rumen fluid samples were taken for bacterial, protozoal and fungal counts investigation. Results: The goats fed a diet containing 5% of Leucaena had the highest (p≤0.05) value for total anaerobic bacteria count (0.93×106 CFU mL^-1), whereas goats fed a diet containing 15% of Leucaena had the lowest (p≤0.05) value (0.67×10⁶ CFU mL^-1). Goats fed a feed containing 15 % ^Leucaena showed the highest levels of total fungus and protozoa, at 0.07 and 0.47 CFU mL^-1, respectively. The least (p≤0.05) value for the total protozoa count was recorded in the rumen of goats fed the control diet, which had a value of 0.27 CFU mL^-1. Conclusion: According to data obtained, adding L. leucocephala to goat meals at a rate of 5% raised bacterial counts while lowering fungus counts. Consequently, it is advised that L. leucocephala be fed to WAD goats at a level of inclusion of 5%.