Effect of replacement of concentrate mixture with isonitrogenous leaf meal mixture on growth, nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation in goats

Comparative evaluation of native top feeds of western Himalayas for utilization as goat's ration in mash and block form

The current research was undertaken to scrutinize the effect of leaf meal mixture as concentrate mixture in the ration of goats. Leaf meal mixture (LMM) was prepared using equal quantities of ten top-foliages namely Acacia nilotica, Celtis australis, Ficus palmata, Ficus religiosa, Grewia optiva, Melia azadarach, Morus alba, Quercus incana, Salix alba and Zizyphus jujube obtained from district Poonch of Jammu region in western Himalayas. The LMM prepared was substituted for 15% in the concentrate mixture being fed to the goats. The study constituted of two trials. Concentrate mixture offered to the animals was in mash and multi-nutrient block in first and second trial respectively. A total of twelve non-descript, adult male goats were selected for each trial. Goats of 0-14 months age (27.71 ± 2.96 kg live body weight) of for first trial while goats of 12-16 months age (27.02 ± 2.93 kg live weight) for second trial were divided into control and treatment groups as per randomized block design and fed ad-lib wheat straw and concentrate mixture @ (20 g/kgW0.75). No significant variation was observed (p > 0.05) in body weight, feed and DM intake among all groups in both trials. Comparable intake as well as digestibility of various nutrients like DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF, ADF and TDN were found between the two groups during individual trials. There was a positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance among all experimental animals in both the trials. Serum enzymes ALT, AST and haemato-biochemical parameters like total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin: globulin and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) showed no significant differences during both trials in all groups, being within normal physiological levels. However, haemoglobin concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in treatment group with respect to the control group in first trial. On the basis of current results, it can be established that leaf meal mixture can successfully be used to replace concentrate mixture up to 15% in the ration of goats without expecting any adverse impacts on their growth and overall health.

Comparative performance of Barbari goats under different rearing system in semi-arid region

This study was undertaken to compare the performance of Barbari goats under grazing system and stall feeding system. Thirty growing Barbari goats of average body weight 15.20±0.54 kg of about 6 months of age were divided into three equal groups (Gr 1, Gr 2 and Gr 3) of ten animals each as per completely randomized design. The animals of Gr 1 was fed with concentrate pellet having 16% Crude protein (CP) while Gr 2 animals were fed with concentrate pellet having 18% crude protein. Goats of Gr 3 were fed with a combination of Concentrate pellet (16% CP), Gram straw, greens along with 6 h grazing. Total body weight gain was highest in Gr 2 followed by Gr 1 and Gr 3. Duration of experimental feeding was 192 days. Average daily gain (g) was 75.28 in Gr 1, 82.77 in Gr 2 and 65.14 in Gr 3. Average daily gain was highest in Gr 2 fed with high CP concentrate pellet and statistically similar to Gr 1 but significantly higher than the Gr 3 kept on grazing with supplementation of concentrate pellet, gram straw and greens. The blood Hb, RBC, PCV, WBC, lymphocyte, monocyte and granulocyte were comparable (P>0.05) among the different groups. Upon DLC analysis, different leukocytes were in the normal range in the stall fed group compared to the grazing group. However, plasma cortisol and testosterone level was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Gr 3 compared to Gr 1 and Gr 2. But the concentrations of plasma cortisol and testosterone were similar in Gr 1 and Gr 2. Present study concluded that the performance of Barbari goats was better under stall feeding system and farmers can gain more profit in stall feeding system of goat rearing compared to grazing system.

Effect of feeding pellet containing Leucaena leucocephala and Ficus infectoria leaves on in vivo methane emission in Barbari goats

Effect of feeding complete pellet feed containing tree leaves on methane emission was studied in male Barbari goats. Three types of complete pellet feed was formulated, viz. control pellet (C) having gram straw (60%) and concentrate mixture (40%), treatment 1 (T1) and treatment 2 (T2) containing dried Leucaena leucocephala and Ficus infectoria leaves respectively. All types of pellets were isonitrogenous. Growing male Barbari goats (12; 3– 4 month-old; average body weight 11.01±0.49 kg) were divided into 3 groups (Gr 1, Gr 2 and Gr 3) as per completely randomized design. Gr 1 was fed with control pellet while Gr 2 and Gr 3 was fed with T1 and T2 pellet respectively. After 6 weeks of experimental feeding, a digestion trial of 6-day duration was conducted. There was no difference in the DMI (g)/day between the 3 groups. Dry matter digestibility and digestibility of other nutrients were comparable among all groups of goats. Rumen liquor was collected from each animal to study rumen fermentation metabolites. Rumen pH, ammonia-N and nitrogenous fractions (total nitrogen, TCA-ppt N, NPN) were statistically similar in all the groups. Total volatile fatty acids (mmol/dl) was significantly higher in Gr 3 (10.57) and Gr 2 (9.52) as compared to control group (8.67). Fractions (%) of volatile fatty acids (acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid) were similar in different groups. In vivo methane emission in different groups of goats was estimated by SF6 technique as per procedure standardized in our lab. Methane production (g/day) was 8.29 in Gr 1, 7.47 in Gr 2 and 6.72 in Gr 3. There was 9.89 and 18.93% lower methane production in Gr 2 and Gr 3 as compared to control group of goats fed with complete pellet feed. From the present study, it can be concluded that incorporation of dried L. leucocephala and Ficus infectoria leaves in the complete pellet feed can reduce the methane production in goats.

Effect of condensed tannins from Ficus infectoria and Psidium guajava leaf meal mixture on nutrient metabolism, methane emission and performance of lambs

Objective

The study examined the effect of condensed tannins (CT) containing Ficus infectoria and Psidium guajava leaf meal mixture (LMM) supplementation on nutrient metabolism, methane emission and performance of lambs.

Methods

Twenty four lambs of ~6 months age (average body weight 10.1±0.60 kg) were randomly divided into 4 dietary treatments (CT-0, CT-1, CT-1.5, and CT-2 containing 0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 percent CT through LMM, respectively) consisting of 6 lambs each in a completely randomized design. All the lambs were offered a basal diet of wheat straw ad libitum, oat hay (100 g/d) along with required amount of concentrate mixture to meet their nutrient requirements for a period of 6 months. After 3 months of experimental feeding, a metabolism trial of 6 days duration was conducted on all 24 lambs to determine nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance. Urinary excretion of purine derivatives and microbial protein synthesis were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Respiration chamber study was started at the mid of 5th month of experimental feeding trial. Whole energy balance trials were conducted on individual lamb one after the other, in an open circuit respiration calorimeter.

Results

Intake of dry matter and organic matter (g/d) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in CT-1.5 than control. Digestibility of various nutrients did not differ irrespective of treatments. Nitrogen retention and microbial nitrogen synthesis (g/d) was significantly (p<0.01) higher in CT-1.5 and CT-2 groups relative to CT-0. Total body weight gain (kg) and average daily gain (g) were significantly (linear, p<0.01) higher in CT-1.5 followed by CT-1 and CT-0, respectively. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) by lambs was significantly (linear, p<0.01) better in CT-1.5 followed by CT-2 and CT-0, respectively. Total wool yield (g; g/d) was linearly (p<0.05) higher for CT-1.5 than CT-0. Methane emission was linearly decreased (p<0.05) in CT groups and reduction was highest (p<0.01) in CT-2 followed by CT-1.5 and CT-1. Methane energy (kcal/d) was linearly decreased (p<0.05) in CT groups.

Conclusion

The CT supplementation at 1% to 2% of the diet through Ficus infectoria and Psidium guajava LMM significantly improved nitrogen metabolism, growth performance, wool yield, FCR and reduced methane emission by lambs.