Efficacy of different concentrate to roughage ratio on growth performance of Osmanabadi kids in Marathwada region

Abstract

In Osmanabadi goats kids, stall feeding is the most economic and comfortable method of feeding management. The overall growth performance in Osmanabadi goat kids was enhanced by supplementation of concentrate mixture with regular roughage feeding. Further, in Osmanabadi goats, there was positive linear correlation of chest girth, height at withers, body length, height at hip with BCS, body weight and the age. The supplementation of concentrate mixture along with roughages in the feeding management of Osmanabadi kids resulted in heavier body weight. The trend of improvement in different growth and body parameters of Osmanabadi goat kids showed positive linear correlation with the amount of concentrate feed consumed by the kid. The supplementation of concentrate mixture with regular roughages in Osmanabadi goat kids improved the level of fodder intake. Stall feeding and the supplementation of concentrate mixture or nutritional enrichment of regular diet of Osmanabadi goat kids results in the improvement in voluntary fodder intake, however the rate of intake remained in positive linear correlation up to the 50% amount of concentrate feed consumed on dry matter requirement basis in Osmanabadi goat kids. Positive linear correlation of concentrate supplementation with voluntary fodder intake ultimately resulted in reduced fodder leftover and thereby the fodder wastage.