Effect of feeding some forage shrubs on goats performance and rumen fermentation in dry season [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of feeding leaves and stems of Acacia saligna, Leucaena leucocephala and Moringa oleifera fodder on nutrients digestibility, nitrogen utilization, rumen fermentation and milk production of goats. Thirty lactating does (weight ranged from 30-33 kg), aged 2-4 years old and from 2nd to 3rd lactation season were randomly allocated into three similar groups (10 animals each). Each doe was given 300 gm barley grains per day as energy supplement, while, the shrubs were given ad libitum. The first group fed fresh Acacia saligna, the second group fed fresh Leucaena leucocephala and the third group fed fresh Moringa oleifera ad libitum. The lactating trial was extended for 75 days where goats were fed individually and fresh water was available at all times. Nutrients digestibility coefficients and dietary nitrogen utilization of experimental feeds were evaluated using four adult bucks. Rumen fennentation kinetics as well as some rumen parameters were monitored on three fistulated adult does.

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