The effects of replacing dried citrus pulp with barley grain on the performance of Iranian Saanen kids

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing barley with Dried Citrus Pulp (DCP) on the performance of growing kids. About 12 female Iranian Saanen weaned kids aged 88±3 days with live weight 7 ±0.7 kg were used in a completely randomized design. Kids were housed in individual metabolic cages. There were 3 treatments (n = 4 kids per treatment). The dietary treatments were Tl, 30% lucerne with 70% concentrate supplement; T2 and T3, 7 and 14% of barley grain in supplements were replaced with DCP, respectively. Daily intake was determined. The growth of animals was monitored every 15 days. Rumen fluid was collected by stomach tube and pH measured. Blood samples were collected from each animal at the end of experiment via jugular vein, 2 h after morning feeding. Significant difference (p<0.05) occurred for DMI, average daily gain, feed efficiency, rumen fluid pH and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN). DMI and daily gain decreased with increasing DCP. In contrast, feed efficiency, rumen pH and BUN increased. Apparent digestibility of DM, NDF, ADF, CP and N-balance did not differ between treatments (p<0.05). No differences observe between treatments for body measurements (p>0.05). It was concluded that DCP in ration of growing kids is not able to support requirements like starch sources but citrus pulp could be incorporated into ruminant ration. © Medwell Journals, 2010.