Performance of pashmina kid goats fed oak ( Quercus semecarpifolia) leaves supplemented with a urea molasses mineral block

Abstract

The study was carried out for 180 days in the temperate and humid climate of Kumaon hills in the Himalayas. Twelve healthy male pashmina kid goats (5–6 months age and 12.8 kg average body weight) were randomly assigned to three groups of four animals. The kids of group I were fed conventional concentrate mixture and ad libitum freshly lopped oak leaves to meet nutrient requirements [NRC, 1981. Nutrient Requirement of Goats. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. USA, pp. 10–12]. In group II, kids were fed urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) licks along with freshly lopped green oak leaves whereas animals of group III were fed solely on oak leaves (negative control group). A 7-day metabolism trial was conducted at the end of experiment. The dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intakes and their digestibility were lower ( P<0.01) in group III but comparable between group I and II. Intake of organic matter (OM) and ether extract (EE) was also lower ( P<0.05) in group III but similar in other groups. Digestibility of OM differed ( P<0.01) among the three groups. It was the highest in group I (62.5%) and the lowest in group III (50.5%). Digestibility of EE was also lower ( P<0.01) in group III (33.2%). Digestibility of acid detergent fibre (ADF) was significantly higher in group III (29.1%) and similar for groups I and II. Average daily gain in groups I, II and III was 46.3, 44.3 and 27.3 g/day, respectively and it was lower ( P<0.01) in group III. Nitrogen balance was depressed ( P<0.01) in group III (1.1 g/day) and comparable between groups I and II. The intake of total digestible nutrient (TDN) was ( P<0.01) the highest in group I (49.6 g/kg W 0.75) and the lowest in group III (31.4 g/kg W 0.75). Results indicate that providing a concentrate mixture or a UMMB lick without affecting the performance of pashmina kid goats could ameliorate the depressing effect of oak leaves on the digestibility of nutrients.