Performance of Goats Fed on Dry Mixed Grass and Legume Tree Leaves Replacing Concentrate Mixture

Twelve growing local (nondescript) female goats (4 to 5 months age; 11.0±1.2 kg b. wt.) were fed dry mixed grass, to compare the effects of legume tree leaves and concentrate supplementation on nutrient utilization, growth and blood constituents. Goats were divided into 3 treatment groups (T1 T2 and T3) of 4 animals each. Animals of T1 group were fed a concentrate mixture to meet the protein requirement, while others were fed Sesbania (T2) and Subabul (T3) leaves replacing concentrate mixture on isonitrogenous basis. Average daily DMI was 416,445 and 400 g in T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively and the differences were nonsignificant. Digestibility (%) of DM and OM were higher (P<0.01) in T1 (61.1 & 63.8) than both T2 (52.1 & 54.4) and T3 (50.6 & 51.8). CP digestibility was lower (P<0.01) in T3 (42.4%) than T2 (54.7%)) and T1 (57.5%). But digestibility of EE, NDF, ADF and cellulose remained unaffected by dietary treatments. The ADG was 35.2,39.0 and 31,6 gin T1, T2 and T3 groups respectively and the variation among the groups was nonsignificant. Average concentration of haemoglobin, glucose plasma protein and urea nitrogen was comparable among the groups ranging from 10.9 to 11.4 g 58.7 to 62.4 mg, 7.7 to 8.2 g and 16.2 to 19.4 mg/dl respectively. Thus supplementation of fresh legume tree leaves in dry mixed grass based rations, had no adverse effects on nutrient utilization growth performance and blood constituents except lower DM and OM digestibility in goats.