Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2007
Effect of feeding different levels of wilted cassava foliage (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) on the performance of growing goats
Phengvichith V, Ledin IAbstract
The effects of feeding different levels of wilted cassava foliage (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) on growth and diet digestibility were studied using local male growing goats with an average body weight of 14.5 kg. Thirty-two animals were randomly allocated to four groups of eight animals in a growth experiment, and four animals were assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin Square design to study digestibility. The four diets in both the growth and the digestibility studies were Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) as a sole diet offered ad libitum (control) or supplemented with wilted cassava foliage (WCF) at 20%, 30% and 40% of an expected daily DM intake of 3% of BW. Dry matter (DM) intake was significantly lower in the control group and increased with the level of WCF in the diet, while the DM intake of Gamba grass was not significantly changed. Total DM intake and DM intakes from Gamba grass were 472, 546, 584 and 616 g/d and 472, 457, 457 and 470 g/d for the control and treatments with 20%, 30% and 40% of WCF in the diet, respectively. The inclusion of WCF in the diet increased the apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, N, Neutral detergent Fibre and Acid Detergent Fibre, and resulted in a higher N-retention. The average daily gains of animals fed diets with WCF were significantly higher than in the control group. The highest gain was recorded in goats with 40% of WCF in the diet (55.0 g/d) and lowest for the control (28.9 g/d). In conclusion, supplementing a basal diet of Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) with WCF improved DM intake, digestibility, N-retention and weight gain. The inclusion level of WCF in the diet can be up to 30%-40% of diet DM (21%-24% of total DM intake). (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reservedKeywords
Digestibility; Gamba grass; Intake; Local goats; Live weight gain; Wilted cassava foliagePublished in
Small Ruminant Research2007, volume: 71, number: 1-3, pages: 109-116
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Authors' information
Ledin, Inger
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management
Phengvichith, Vanthong
UKÄ Subject classification
Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.05.009
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/14829