Effects of Madras thorn, Leucaena and Gliricidia supplementation on feed intake, digestibility and growth of goats fed Panicum hay

摘要

AstudywasconductedtocomparetheeffectoffeedingPithecellobiumdulce(Madrasthorn),LeucaenaLeucecephala(leuceana)andGliricidiaSepium(gliricidia)onvoluntaryfeedintake,liveweightgains,digestibilityandnitrogenbalanceofgrowinggoatsfedPanicumhay.TwelveSmallEastAfricangoatsagedbetween8and9monthsandaverage9.65kgwererandomlyassignedtofourtreatmentsnamelyPanicumhayfedadlibitumplus100gofmaizebran(control),controlsupplementedwith18.6,22.5and19.9gDM/kgW0.75isonitrogenouslevelsofLeucaena,GliricidiaorMadrasthornrespectively.CrudeproteinconcentrationsinDMwere3.5,21%,23%and25%forhay,Gliricidia,MadrasthornandLeucaenarespectively.Totaldailydrymatterintakewas229gto365g,387gand398g/dayforthecontrol,Madrasthorn,GliricidiaandLeucaenarespectively.Animalssupplementedwiththelegumesretained(P0.05)morenitrogenthanthecontrol(Madrasthorn3.7,Gliricidia3.6,Leucaena3.5vs.0.6g/day).Legumesupplementationincreased(P0.05)dailygainsform2g/dayinthecontroltreatmentto19,22and25g/dayforGliricidia,MadrasthornandLeucaenarespectively.SupplementingPanicumhaywithmadrasthorngavesimilargrowthperformancetoGliricidiaandLeucaena.