Performance of the goat fed grass, shrub and tree fodders during the dry season in Bali, indonesia

Sukanten, I. W.; Nitis, I. M.; Uchida, S.; Putra, S.; Lana, K.

doi:1996.9.4.381

Article

Ruminant Nutrition and Forage Utilization

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 1996;9(4): 381-388.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.1996.381 Published online August 1, 1996.

Performance of the goat fed grass, shrub and tree fodders during the dry season in Bali, indonesia

I. W. Sukanten, I. M. Nitis, S. Uchida, S. Putra, K. Lana

Abstract

An experiment was carried out for 12 weeks to study the feeding behaviour, growth and carcass characteristics of cross-bred goats. Nine bucks with an average live weight of 18.02 0.9 kg were allocated in a completely randomized block design arrangement, consisting of three feeding regimes and three blocks. The feeding regimes consisted of 100% natural grass(Treatment A), 100% gliricidia leaf(Treatment B) and 100% ficus leaf(Treatment C). Frequency of turning-over and sniffing the feed and duration and frequency of ruminating, defaecating, and urination of goats in treatment B were longer, while duration of masticating and jaw movement of chewing one bolus was shorter than those of goats in treatments C and A(p<0.05). Furthermore, goats in treatment B gained more live weight, consumed more feed, consumed less water and was more efficient in utilizing the feed than goats in treatments C or A(p<0.05). The dressing percentage, carcass length and carcass fat of goats in treatment B were higher and their bone percentages were lower than those in treatments C and A(p<0.05). There is an indication that feeding gliricidia and ficus leaves during the dry season could not only increase the body weight and improve carcass quality of the goat but also also sane water for household needs.

Keywords: Goat; Gliricidia Leaf; Ficus Leaf; Feeding Behaviour; Growth; Carcass Caracteristics