Effects of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 6000) and Bentonite Clay Incorporation in Selected Local Browses Based Diets on the Performance of Small East African Goats

Abstract

Abstract The study evaluated how binders affected the feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of small east African goats fed on a variety of native browse-based diets. Twenty-four growing goats with initial body weight approximately 10.5 kg±1.3 (mean±SE) were randomly allocated to the Acacia brevispica and Berchemia discolor with various levels of PEG and bentonite clay in a Factorial completely randomized design. The selected local browse leaf meal was treated with PEG at a level of 25g/kg and bentonite clay at 20g/kg. The goats were allocated to individual pens with each treatment having 3 replicates. The experiment lasted for 70days, consisting of a 14-day adaptation period. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and FCR were computed each week. The composition of the CP, OM, EE, NDF, ADF, TEPH, and CT varied greatly, with significant (P<0.05) changes seen between the various experimental treatments. Diets treated with binders had higher DM Intake, daily weight gains and total dry matter intake. Diets treated with binders had higher DM Intake, daily weight gains and total dry matter intake. Goats on diets treated with bentonite clay(T2) performed much better than the one treated with PEG (T1) though there was no significance difference between the two. Acacia brevispica based diets treated with binders performed better than Bechemia discor based diets. All nutrients' digestibility coefficients were unaffected by the addition of polyethylene glycol 6000 or bentonite clay (P > 0.05). It was concluded that bentonite clay as deactivation material can be adopted due to its low cost compared to PEG and its activity to absorb or bind anti-nutritive factors such as tannins found in animal feeds. Though, addition of PEG and bentonite clay to A. brevispica and B. discolor based diet can be used to enhance feed utilization as a result of tannins deactivation.