Potential of Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) for Compensatory Growth on Anglo-Nubian Crossbred Male Goats

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) as the sole diet after restriction of feeding in order to elevate compensatory growth during re-alimentation. Twelve Anglo-Nubian crossbred male goats, with an average body weight of 17.50 kg, were assigned to 3 treatments, with 4 replicates, in a completely randomized design (CRD), where all treatments were under 3 feeding regimes, viz. pre-feed restriction, feed restriction, and re-alimentation. All animals were allotted to normal feeding and fed with Pangola hay and meal concentrate to promote an average daily gain (ADG) of 100 g in the initial period for 3 weeks. During the feed restriction period, animals in Treatment 1 were continuously fed at the same level as in the pre-restriction (normal growth/control group), while the animals in Treatments 2 and 3 (restricted groups) were kept at feeding levels of 47.5 and 67.5 % below maintenance, based on NRC (2007), for 4 weeks. In the final period of re-alimentation (7 weeks), the normal growth group was given Pangola hay and meal concentrate at the same level as in the pre-restriction period while restricted groups were subjected to ad libitum sole leucaena feeding until the end of the trial. The results showed that average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake did not differ among the treatments during the pre-feed restriction while, in the restriction feeding period, the restricted groups had lower means (P < 0.01) than the normal growth group. In the re-alimentation period, total dry matter intake was not significantly different among treatments. It is pointed that there were 2 sub-periods during the re-alimentation period where total dry matter intake during the compensatory growth and the normal growth were not significantly different. However, the compensatory growth had been achieved within 2 weeks, indicating a higher ADG of 141.25 and 158.57 g in the restricted groups, compared to 106 g in the control group. Afterwards, the sub-period of normal growth (5 weeks) was followed with a lower ADG in the restricted groups than that in the control group. It can be concluded that the potential of single leucaena feeding for compensatory growth after restriction feeding can be achieved within a short period during re-alimentation, due to the limitation of fiber enrichment in leucaena.