Siamba, Donald N.Lukibisi, DB.Kabaka, FM.Ole, N.Sinkeet, S.2019-05-172019-05-172002http://erepository.kibu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1052Eighteen dual purpose goats were used to evaluate the effects of feeding Calliandra caryothyrsus leaf meat at different patterns as a supplement to Rhodes grass hay on intake, nitrogen utilization and milk yield. A basal diet of low quality Rhodes grass hay (fed 90% and libitum) and 100 g maize germ were offered to the goats over a 60-day experimental period. The treatments were:- (TI) 100 g day{sup -}1 calliandra for 60 days; (T2) 200 g day{sup -}1 calliandra for 30 days followed by another 30 days where 200 g or 0 g day{sup -}1 calliandra alternated every 5 days; and (T3) 200 g or 0 day{sup -}1 calliandra alternated every 5 days for 60 days. Total dry matter intake (TDM) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in T1 than in T2 and T3. The total DMI were 887.2, 936.4 and 913.8 g day{sup -}1 for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Milk yields had similar trends averaged 166.1, 231.8 and 20.1 g day{sup -}1 for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The utilization of nitrogen was also significantly (P<0.05) affected by the pattern of supplement feeding. It was concluded from the results that the overall animal response could be influenced by how limited quantity f supplement was fed.enAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United Stateshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/Article