A twelve-week trial was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary malted sorghum sprout treated polyethylene glycol-6000 (MSP + PEG-6000) on the performance of West African dwarf (WAD) goats. MSP was treated with PEG-6000 molecular weight at ratio: 1kg to 1g and then incorporated into the diets at varying levels of 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% (MSP + PEG-6000) to formulate four dietary treatments. Panicum maximum leave was provided as the basal diet along with the compounded dietary treatments, and were given free access to fresh, cool clean water. Twenty (20) WAD goats were divided into four dietary treatments on weight equalization, each consisting of five goats, in a completely randomized design. Data collected on the performance of WAD goats were subjected to one-way ANOVA. Results revealed that dietary MSP + PEG-6000 had no significant (p>0.05) influence on all the growth parameters observed except the concentrate dry matter intake (CDMI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Similar CDMI values were obtained in goats fed 20% MSP+PEG-6000 (3359.50g/d) and 40% MSP+PEG-6000 (3359.60g/d) but significantly (p<0.05) recorded the highest values. Goats fed dietary 40% MSP+PEG-6000 had the best FCR (4.60) value. The nutrient intake parameters obtained were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the dietary MSP+ PEG-6000. Goats on dietary MSP+PEG-6000 had higher concentrate crude protein intake values when compared with those on control diet. Goats fed 20% and 40% MSP+PEG-6000 recorded similar (p>0.05) concentrate DM, ash and hemicellulose intake values but significantly (p<0.05) higher when compared with other dietary treatment. Dietary MSP+ PEG-6000 significantly (p<0.05) influenced all nutrient digestibility (ND) values observed in this study. Goats fed 40% MSP+PEG recorded the highest ND values. Dietary MSP+PEG-6000 significantly (p<0.05) influenced the nitrogen utilization (NU) parameters across the dietary treatments except the urinary nitrogen output. Goats on 40% MSP+PEG-6000 had the highest NU values (77.82%) when compared with other dietary treatments. Dietary MSP+PEG-6000 significantly (p<0.05) influenced all the rumen fermentation parameters except the acetic/ propionic ratio. Goats fed 40% MSP+PEG-6000 based diet recorded the highest propionic acid (42.00mm/100mL), acetic acid (42.50mm/100mL), butyric acid (33.50 mm/100mL), total volatile fatty acids (118.00mm/100mL), total bacterial count (2.85 x 106cfu/mL) and total coliform count (1.45 x106 cfu/mL). It can be concluded that MSP treated with PEG-6000 can be incorporated into goat’s diet up to 40% inclusion level as it improved the overall performance of the experimental goats.
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