Replacement of Commercial Concentrate with Acacia nilotica Pod Meal on Feed Intake, Digestibility and Weight Gain of Boer x Woyto-Guji Crossbred Goats

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate supplementation effect of graded levels of Acacia nilotica pod meal on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and weight gain of Boer and Woyto-Guji (50%) crossbred goats. Twenty four Boer and Woyto-Guji crosses with initial weight of 15.20 ± 0.67 kg were used for the experiment. The experimental diets comprised of T1 = 58% of graded Acacia nilotica pod + 40% of wheat bran; T2= 38% of Acacia nilotica pod + 60% of wheat bran; T3=19% of Acacia nilotica pod + 80% wheat bran; T4= Commercial concentrate. Wheat bran is offered as a source of energy supplements. Six goats were randomly assigned to one of the four diets in Completely Randomized Block Design (RCBD). After 15 days of acclimatization periods, feeding trial had lasted for 90 days and followed by seven days of digestibility trial. The results indicated that goats supplemented with T1 consumed higher (P < 0.001) total DM, CP and ME than T2 and T3. The apparent CP digestibility coefficient showed significant variations (P < 0.001) among experimental diets. Conversely, the nutrient digestibility coefficients indicated that goats supplemented with T1 digested more CP than T2 and T3. Likewise, goats supplemented with T1 had attained higher (P < 0.01) ADG than those supplemented with T2 and T3. Results indicated that strategic supplementation of goats with 58% inclusion level of Acacia nilotica pod in goat diets as a protein supplements is promising to replace commercial concentrate in pastoral communities in to study area.