Fattening goats with sugarcane sprouts, corn stubble, protein concentrate, molasses and urea

Abstract

Daily weight gains (DWG), dry matter intake (DMI) and cost of fattening were studied using a diet of 29% sugarcane sprouts, 29% corn stubble, 29% concentrate with 18% crude protein (CP), 9.5% molasses, 2% urea, 1% salt and 0.5% mineral salts. The study was conducted during three consecutive years (1990–1992), using a total of 374 goats of 12–36 months of age. Results showed DWG of 102 g ± 9 g day −1for the group less than 30 kg BW (Group 1) and of 86 g ± 8 g day −1 for goats with more than 30 kg BW (Group 2). The ratio of feed conversion was 11:1 for the first group, and 12:1 for the second group. DMI was 1.055 kg day −1 and 1.270 kg day −1 for Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Goats with an initial BW of less than 30 kg were more profitable ( P < 0.01). For effect of breed, growth of Nubians was superior ( P < 0.05) to that of Alpines. The diet had a cost of $US0.11 kg −, so $US1.21 was needed to gain 1 kg for Group 1 and $US1.32 for Group 2. The diet evaluated by DWG and index of conversion was profitable, with the mixture of agricultural by-products produced in the tropics such as sugarcane sprouts combined with molasses-urea, and corn stubble, adding a true protein source (commercial concentrate) and urea as a non-protein nitrogen source. It was concluded that the overall diet was a good alternative nutritional management for fattening goats in the dry season.