Effects of dietary protein sources on feed and nutrient intake, digestibility and rumen parameters of growing Bach Thao goats

• Nguyen Thi Kim Dong and Nguyen Van Thu Author

Small ruminants, feeds, nitrogen sources, rumen parameters, growth

Four Bach Thao male goats at 5 months of age (10.5±0.711 kg) were arranged in a Latin square design with 4 treatments and 4 periods to evaluate feed and nutrient takes, digestibility and rumen environment. This experiment was carried out from Feb to June 2018 at labotatory and experimental farm of Can Tho University. Four treatments were coconut meal (CM), soybean extraction meal (SEM), soya waste (SW) and Psophocarpus scandens (PS) corresponding to CM, SEM, SW and PS treatments, respectively. There was an adjustment for the CP intake of experimental goats, which were around 6.0 gCP/kg live weight by urea supplementation. Each experimental period last 14 days with 7 days for adaptation and then 7 days for collecting samples.

The results showed that daily DM intake was significantly different (P<0.05) among the treatments with the highest value for the PS treatment (482 g/goat/day) and the lowest for the CM one. The daily NDF intake of for the PS treatment was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the others, however daily CP intake was numerically higher (P>0.05) for the SEM (99.7g) and PS treatment (87.9g). However, the ME intake (MJ) was significantly higher (P<0.05) for the PS, SEM and SW treatment. The digestible DM and NDF were significantly different among the treatments with the higher values for the PS treatment. Numerically, the nitrogen retention was higher (P>0.05) for the SEM and PS treatment, while daily weight gain was not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatments, however the higher value for the PS treatment (120 g/day). The conclusion was that supplementing the CP sources for goats with Psophocarpus scandens, soybean extraction meal and soya waste gave better feed nutrient intakes and digestibility compared to the coconut meal.