A study was conducted to compare the effect of fungi (Rhizopus oligosporus and Rhizopus nigrican) based diet on the performance characteristics of West African dwarf goat (n=15). The goats (n= 15) were randomized against the experimental diets in a completely randomized design model for a 56 day period. The diets consisted of soybean cake based diet A (control), diet B (50% Rhizopus oligosporus treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake + 50% Soybean cake), diet C (50% Rhizopus nigricans treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake + 50% Soybean cake), D (100% Rhizopus oligosporus treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake) and E (100% Rhizopus nigricans treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake). The animals were fed and watered ad-libitum. The results showed a numerical increase in the crude protein and ether extract contents of the fungi treated (50%) Jatropha curcas kernel cake. There were improvement in the consumption of crude protein, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract in diet B compared to other diets. The digestibility coefficient of most nutrients (crude protein, crude fiber, nitrogen free extract) in diet B was significantly higher than other diets. Diet B proved promising as there was no mortality recorded for animals on this diet and diet A (control). Additionally, the packed cell volume, red blood cell, haemoglobin and neutrophil contents of the blood of animals on diet B was similar to that of diet A. It was concluded that growing goats can be fed a diet consisting of 50% Soybean cake + 50% Rhizopus oligosporus treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake under confinement and obtained adequate dry matter and other nutrients.
