Effect of soaking of Ficus natalensis Hochst. leaves in different solutions on intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance in goats

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of soaking Ficus natalensis leaves in bamboo charcoal or bamboo ash solutions to improve intake, digestibility and nitrogen utilization by goats. The leaves were prepared in four different ways (four treatments) prior to being fed to eight goats as the sole diet in a double 4 × 4 Latin square design. The four treatments were: Charcoal (F. natalensis leaves soaked in bamboo charcoal solution for 24 h); Ash (F. natalensis leaves soaked in bamboo ash solution for 24 h); Water (F. natalensis leaves soaked in water for 24 h); and Control (non-soaked fresh F. natalensis leaves). Daily feed intake, digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) as well as nitrogen utilization by the goats were determined. Soaking (Charcoal, Ash and Water treatments) did not improve (P > 0.05) intake of F. natalensis leaves; however soaking in the bamboo ash solution significantly reduced (P 0.05) on OM and CP digestibility Similarly, soaking either in water or bamboo charcoal solution significantly improved (P < 0.05) nitrogen (N) utilization; with lower (P < 0.05) faecal and urinary N excretions as well as higher (P < 0.05) N retention values than the control treatment (non-soaked leaves). There is a need for further studies to determine effect of soaking in water or bamboo charcoal solution on goat performance (average daily gain) and slaughter, carcass and organoleptic characteristics of goat meat.