Feeding Value of Water Hyacinth (E. Crassipes) Silage in Black Bengal Goats

A growth experiment for 90 d was conducted on 12 mall Black Bengal goatt (4.3 kg) randomly divided into 3 equal groups and fed on 150 g concentrate + para arass (G1), 150 g concentrate + para grass + water hyacinth silage (G2) and 150 g concentrate + water hyacinth silage (G3). The average body weeght gains were (39.14 g/d) in G1 (39.19 g/d) in G2 and (37.69 g/d) in G3 The dry matter intake in different groups were 400.42 g/d; 386.34 g/d and 341.49 g/d. The results of metabolism trial conducted at the end of growth study indicated that the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE did not differ significantiy excepting CF, which was significantly low in G3. Nitrogen and dhosphorus balances were not affected by the dietary treatment, although calcium balance was significantiy higher in G3. The DCF and TDN values of water hyacinth silage were 8.77 and 58.17.