Comparison of dry matter intake and digestibility of sun-cured pigeon pea, alfalfa and coastal bermudagrass by growing dairy goats

Abstract

Dry matter intake and digestibility of sun-cured pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan), alfalfa ( Medicago sativa) and coastal bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon) were studied in thirty growing Alpine dairy goats, age 7 to 9 months, assigned to three groups of ten each. The forages were offered ad libitum with supplementation of 0.454 kg yellow corn grain per animal per day. A control group of an additional 9 doelings of the same age were fed a complete ration to compare its intake with the three forage groups. In a digestion trial, six Nubian and six Alpine bucks, age 7 to 9 months were fed the three forages for three weeks. Respective average daily dry matter intake for pigeon pea, alfalfa, bermudagrass and complete ration were 61.2, 61.3, 57.8 and 79.9 gDM/day/W 0.75. Respective apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter for pigeon pea, alfalfa and bermudagrass were 51.5, 67.3 and 49.6; of crude protein 69.7, 79.4 and 43.2; and of crude fiber 30.1, 55.4 and 48.3.