Milk Production and Quality of Etawa Crossbred Goats with Non-Conventional Forages and Palm Concentrates

Abstract

Using Tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia), Cassava leaves (Manihot utilisima), and Gamal (Gliricidia sepium) as alternative fibers, and palm concentrate as an alternative protein, is one way to implement an effective feeding strategy under a limited supply or lack of feed sources for Etawa Crossbreed Dairy Goats (ECDG). This research aimed to study the productive traits and milk quality of ECDG fed on several sources of forage with Palm Kernel Cake Concentrate (PKCC). The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments of feed formulation. Treatment formulations were as follows: A. 50% Tofu Waste (TW) +50% field grass (control); B. 25% TW +25% PKCC +50% Tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia); C. 25% TW +25% PKCC +50% Cassava leaves (Manihot utilisima); D. 25% TW +25% PKCC +50% Gamal (Gliricidia sepium). The results showed were significant (P<0.05) on parameters such as DMI, OMI, CPI, DMD, OMD, CPD, protein, lactose, fat, TS, and Ca of milk. It can be concluded that the replacement of field grass with forage sources such as Tithonia, Cassava leaves, and Gamal and the replacement of tofu waste with concentrate-based palm kernel cake could increase feed intake, digestibility, protein, lactose, and fat of milk.