Preparation of complete feed pellet from monsoon herbages (Dactylotennium aegypticum, Cenchrus ciliaris and Tephrosia purpurea) and its utilization in kids.

The present study evaluated three monsoon herbages (Dactylotennium aegypticum, Cenchrus ciliaris, and Tephrosia purpurea) in kids feeding during fodder scarcity periods through assessing the performance, nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation and haematology. Three types of complete feed pellet diets were prepared using 60 parts of each dried biomass and 40 parts concentrate. Each diet was offered for 72 days to one of the animal group consisting of six Barbari male kids (6–7 months of age) in each. The complete feed pellet had crude protein (CP) 12.07, 15.51 and 16.27% and total fat 2.75, 2.88 and 3.42%, respectively in Dactylotennium aegypticum (Gr-1) Cenchrus ciliaris (Gr-2) and Tephrosia purpurea (Gr-3) based diets. The kids maintained on three diets had similar growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR, kg feed/kg gain), average daily gain (ADG) ranged from 58.6 to 79.2g, while FCR varied from 10.3 to 11.9. DM intake was 5.1, 4.7 and 4.3% of body weight respectively in Gr-1, 2 and 3. Daily water intake was different (P<0.05) among three groups. The digestibility of DM, OM, CP and ADF was higher (P<0.05) in Gr-3, while cellulose digestibility was higher (P<0.05) in Gr-1. Total digestible nutrient (TDN) and digestible crude protein (DCP) contents were different (P<0.001) among three diets, Gr-3 had the highest TDN and DCP contents compared to other groups. Rumen fluid pH was the lowest (P<0.001) in Gr-2, while total volatile fatty acid and NH3 -N were higher (P<0.05) in Gr-3, however TCA-ppt-N was higher (P<0.05) in Gr-1. Haematology of kids did not change by the roughage sources of the diet. The kids fed with these roughages at R:C, 60:40; consumed daily DM 663 to 781g, TDN 393 to 425g, DCP 42 to 70g to have ADG 59 to 79 g with FCR 10 to 12. Therefore, Dactylotennium aegypticum, Cenchrus ciliaris and Tephrosia purpurea may be conserved during monsoon for post-monsoon feeding, and may serve as good source of roughage for kid production if fortified appropriately with concentrate feeds.