Effect of pellet diameter on physical characteristics and intake of concentrate pellet in Goats

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of pellet size on feed intake in goats.Three types of concentrate pellet of same composition (bulk density, 0.614 g/cm3) was prepared using different pellet die (8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm) size at the feed pelleting unit of Animal Nutrition Experimental shed, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom. The physical properties of pellet like sectional expansion index (SEI), longitudinal expansion index (LEI), water absorption index (WAI) and cutting strength (CS) was similar in all type of pellets. Volumetric expansion index (VEI) increased while specific length (mm/g), specific gravity (g/ cc) and bulk density (g/cm3) decreased with increase in the pellet die diameter. Water solubility index (WSI%) was similar in 8 mm (10.02) and 10 mm (10.22) pellet but reduced in 12 mm (9.74) pellet. Feeding trial was conducted in male goats (Age 1 yaer with mean body weight 23.84 kg) to study the impact of pellet diameter on feed intake and behaviour of animals. Twelve adult goats were divided into three groups (Gr I, Gr II and Gr III) of four each and fed with 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm pellet, respectively. Animals were fed with concentrate pellet at the rate of 1.5 % of live body weight and arhar straw ad libitum. During 1st week of feeding the consumption time (min) of pellet was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Gr III (21.46) followed by Gr I (16.10) and Gr II (13.57). After that no significant difference was reported in consumption time of different concentrate pellet in goats. Overall, there was no impact of pellet diameter on the pellet intake and feed intake in goats. Present study concluded that goat can adopt for the intake of pellet of different diameter and feed intake was not affected by pellet diameter.