Utilization of concentrate supplements containing varying levels of cassava leaf pellet by growing goats fed a basal diet of pangola hay

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying levels of cassava leaf pellet (CLP) on feed intake, digestibility and rumen fermentation of goats fed with pangola hay as roughages. Eight growing crossed (Thai native x Anglo-Nubian) goats between 10 to 12 months of age and pre-trial average body weight of 18.5 + 2.5 kg were allotted into two groups on the basis of body weight in a randomized double 4 x 4 Latin square design to investigate the utilization of concentrate mixtures of varying levels of CLP. The four concentrate mixtures had CLP included at 0% (control), 10 % (CLP1), 20% (CLP2) and 30% (CLP3) in concentrate as replacing soybean meal (SBM) with CLP as 25 %CP, 50%CP and 75%CP, respectively.  On average, all parameters measured, including dry matter intake (DMI), nutrients digestibility, ruminal ammonia-N (NH3-N), ruminal total volatile fatty acid (total VFA), individual VFAs concentration (mM/L), microbial N supply, and N retention increased (P less than 0.05) with the addition of CLP in concentrate up to 20% (CLP2) in concentrate, thereafter  decreased (P less than 0.05) in goats fed CLP 30% (CLP3). The results indicated that replacing SBM with CLP as 50 %CP (CLP2), resulted in higher animal performance as a consequence of improved ruminal fermentation, microbial yield and N balance,  but decreased (P less than 0.05) with 30% CLP diet. It is concluded that cassava leaf pellet can successfully replace soybean meal 50% CP as a protein source in growing goats.