Effect of Substituting Different Dietary Levels of Date Pits and Urea Treated Palm Leaves on Growth Performance and Nutrients Digestibility of Ardi Goats

摘要

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of substituting date palm leaves and date pits with conventional concentrate feed and alfalfa hay on the performance and nutrients digestibility of Ardi goats. The Dry Matter Intake (DMI) was significantly higher in goats fed with 10/10 and 20/20 diets than the control group. But the difference in MDI intake was not significant between the control and the 30/30 group. However, goats fed with 10/10 diet showed significantly (p<0.05) higher DMI compared to those fed with 30/30 diet. There was no significant difference in DMI intake between the 20/20 and 30/30 groups. Also, no significant differences in Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were found between the control and 30/30 diet treatment, while these two groups were significantly better (p<0.05) compared to 10/10 and 20/20 groups. Goats fed with 20/20 diet showed significantly lower FCR than 10/10 group. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), Organic Matter (OM), Crude Protein (CP), fat and ash were not significantly different among the dietary treatments. The difference in CF and NDF digestibility was not significant in goats fed with 20/20 and 30/30 diets but was significantly (p<0.05) higher than 0/0 and 10/10 groups. The difference in digestibility coefficient of ADF was not significant between the 20/20 and 30/30 groups but was higher than those fed with 0/0 and 10/10 diets. Goats fed with 0/0 diet showed significantly higher ADF digestibility coefficient than the 10/10 group. Feeding animals UTPL and date pits up to 30% replacing the conventional concentrate feeds and alfalfa hay provided animals with their nutrients requirement above maintenance needs.