Utilization of common grasses by goats in two seasons

• Main Authors: Islam, M., Alam, M. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies 1996
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35781/1/Utilization%20of%20common%20grasses%20by%20goats%20in%20two%20seasons.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35781/7/35781.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35781/; http://www.ajas.info/journal/view.php?number=19060

The effect of feeding freshly-cut common grasses on growth performance of Black Bengal goats during the pre-monsoon and pre-dry season was evaluated. Four castrated goats of 5-6 months age with a mean initial body weight were 11.17 and 10.23 kg for pre-monsoon and pre-dry season respectively, were used as experimental animal. Nutrient component, intake of different nutrients and its effect on body weight changes were determined. Common grass harvested during the pre-monsoon season contained higher nitrogen (15.6 g/kg) and less DM (196.8 g/kg) than the grass harvested in pre-dry season where nitrogen was 12.8 g/kg and DM was 454.9 g/kg. Intake of DM, OM, N, and NDF were 73.12 g, 67.12 g, 964.68 mg and 50.14 g/kg W0.75 respectively in pre-monsoon were higher than those in pre-dry season at p < 0.01 level of significance. Higher (p < 0.01) growth (35.71 g/day) rate was found in pre-monsoon season. It may concluded that grasses grown during the pre-monsoon season was higher nitrogen value and appeared to be more palatable.