The use of mulberry (morus alba) dry leaves as a protein Supplement for Tanzania blended goats fed with low-quality roughage
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Date
2001
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting Morns alba dry leaves
(MDL) for sunflower seed cake (SSC) as a protein supplement on the performance of
blended goats fed with poor quality roughages. In a growth study, 32 growing
blended goats (4 to 7 months old) weighing 14±2.4 kg were randomly allocated to
four dietary rations so formulated that MDL replaced 0, 50, 75 and 100% SSC as a
source of supplementary nitrogen in treatments T, T, T3 and T4 respectively. There
animal received an amount of its respective treatment ration estimated to meet its
DCP requirements (adjusted fortnightly) for maintenance plus an allowance for 50
gd'1 live weight gain. Each animal was also given 10 and 2% of its estimated dry
matter intake (DMI) as hominy meal (HM) and mineral mix respectively plus ad
libitum fresh drinking water daily. After the 84 days of growth study, 3 males from
each treatment were slaughtered for carcass yield and killing-out characteristics.
Nutrient digestibilities and N utilization were measured in a digestibility trial with 4
treatment groups each with 3 mature males. Tj ration (100% SSC), was poorly
accepted by the animals leading to slow growth rates and weight losses towards the
end of the growth study. There were significant treatment effects on daily feed
intakes with highest values in T3 and lowest in T,. Energy intakes were significantly
(P<0.05) lower (2.6 MJ ME d'1) for T1 and higher for the other groups, which were
not significantly (P>0.05) different. Tj animals showed poor growth but the other
groups gained between 30 and 53 g d'1, the highest being for T4. Highest feed
conversion ratio was in T, which differed significantly (P<0.05) from the rest of the
were 8 animals (4 and 4 $) in each group. On top of the basal diet (hay) each
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treatments. Hot carcass weight (HCW) % of slaughter weight (SW), was highest in
T, followed by T3, T4 and Tt in decreasing order. SW, empty body weight (EBW),
HCW and gut fill were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatments, the mean
(P>0.05) treatment effects on gut fill. Yield of total edible non-carcass components
was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T4 than T3, T2 and T,, the order being reversed
when expressed as % of EBW. There were no significant (P>0.05) treatment effects
proportions of lean in the sample joints from animals in all treatment groups. Sample
joints from T, animals had the lowest fat and the highest bone proportions (P<0.05)
than T2, T3 and T4 animals whose differences were generally small and insignificant
(P>0.05). All treatment rations supported positive N balances, high in vivo feed
digestibility with higher energy intakes being associated with rations containing
higher levels of MDL. It was concluded that, MDL can substitute SSC as a protein
supplement to growing meat goats without reduction in performance and that a better
effect of CP supplementation is achieved when some SSC is offered together with M.
alba preferably in the ratio of 25 : 75 (SSC : MDL) in terms of DCP contribution for
meeting maintenance and a growth rate of 50 gd'1. The use of SSC as a sole protein
supplement to growing goats on poor quality roughages is likely to cause low dietary
energy intake leading to lower feed utilization efficiency.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Protein Supplement, Blended goats, Dry leaves, Mulberry (morus alba