Effect of Copper Methionine Supplementation on Growth Rate and Nutrient Utilization in Male Goat Kids

摘要

Twenty male goat kids (10.94 +/- 0.35 kg body weight; 4-5 months age) were divided into four equal groups and offered a standard diet comprising of concentrate mixture an wheat straw in the ratio of 60:40. Animals of control group (T-1) were not fed additional Cu, while the animals of treatment groups were provided additional 7 ppm Cu (as CuSO4) in T-2, 7 ppm Cu (as Cu methionine) in T-3 and 3.5 ppm Cu (as Cu methionine) in T-4 group diets. Experimental feeding was done for 120 days. The intake and digestibility of DM, OM, CP, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicelluloses were similar (P>0.05) among the four. groups. Supplementation of Cu as CuSO4 and Cu-methionine also had no significant (P>0.05) effect on balance of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus; feed: gain ratio and intake of digestible nutrients. However, copper balance was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T-3 than T-1, T-2 and T-4. The growth rate (g/d) of the goat kids in all the three mineral supplemented groups was not different. Supplementation of 7 ppm Cu (as CuSO4 or Cu-methionine) and 3.5 ppm Cu (as Cu-methionine) had no beneficial effect on the growth rate and nutrient utilization in the goat kids