Title: Feed intake and nitrogen utilisation by growing goats fed by-product based diets of different protein and energy levels
Abstract: Nine local (Guyana, South America) cross-bred, intact, growing, male goats (6 months old with mean (± SD) initial BW of 19.9 ± 2.8 kg) were used in two metabolism trials. They were fed diets formulated to be iso-caloric with protein levels of 51, 76, 91, 108 and 127 g CP kg−1 DM (Trial 1). Trial 2 goats were fed diets formulated to be iso-nitrogenous with energy density values of 7, 11, 12, and 14 MJ DE kg−1 DM. Diets contained ground untreated sugarcane bagasse as the sole roughage source ranging from 253 to 540 g kg−1 DM. Each diet was pelleted to minimise differences in physical form and to prevent sorting and selection. The overall mean DMI values (± SD) for Trials 1 and 2 were 25.0 ± 1.4 and 29.8 ± 4.1 g kg−1 BW, respectively. Trial 1 DMI showed a (P < 0.001) linear increase with N intake which accounted for 56% of the variation of DMI and an increase of 33.1 g per unit increase of N. Both OM and DE intake increased (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary protein levels. However, when diets of varying energy levels (Trial 2) were fed only DE intake increased (P < 0.05). DMI increased to 11 MJ DE kg−1 DM but fell when dietary energy was increased to 14 MJ DE kg−1 DM. Digestibility of DM, OM and N showed (P < 0.001) differences. Urine N output and N retained increased (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary CP levels. This trend was not noted with increasing dietary energy levels. Urine N output decreased (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary energy levels. Diets with the lowest dietary energy level had less (P < 0.05) N retention. It was concluded that growing local goats can be fed a complete pelleted by-product based diet under confinement, and obtain adequate levels of DMI and nutrient utilisation.
Publication Year: 1996
Publication Date: 1996-10-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 32
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