A study on the use of fecal characteristics for feed digestibility determination in Goat

Abstract

This study aimed to explore physical characteristics and its correlation to feed digestibility in goat. Sixteen Ettawah Grade goats in the second milk production periods and in the 4-5th month of lactation were used in this study. The study was arranged with completely randomized block block design based on milk production as replications. The goats were fed ration containing 16% of crude protein and 65% of total digestible nutrients (TDN). Some of crude protein content were supplied by urea. The treatments were control ration (without urea; T0), ration with 0.4% urea (T1), ration with 0.8% urea (T2), and ration with 1.2% urea (T3). Parameters observed were feed digestibility, fecal extended level (FEL), and fecal rough particle distribution (FRPD). Data were analyzed using correlation-regression to find the correlation between fecal characteristics and feed digestibility. The results showed that urea content in the rations up to 1.2% of dry matter did not affect dry mater digestibility, water content and fecal characteristics (FEL and FRPD). There were highly negative correlation (r= -0.665) between feed digestibility and water content of feces as well as feed digestibility and FEL (r= -0.553), while correlation between digestibility and FRDP was positive (r=0.608). The conclusion of this study was water content, degree of FEL and FRPD can be used to determine the quality of feed. If feces composed of finer texture, dried and small particles indicated having better digestibility, while if feces composed of rough texture, wet, and large particles indicated having low digestibility.