Effects of Levels of Sago Palm Pith in Concentrate on Nutrients Utilization, rumen fermentation and Production Performance of Thai Native Male Goats

Abstract

This experiment aimed to study the effect of different levels of sago palm pith (SPP) substitution forground corn (GC) on nutrients digestibility, rumen fermentation process and production performance in goats. ThirtyThai native male goats with average body weight (BW) of 14+2 kg, were arranged in a Randomized Complete BlockDesign. The goats were fed with plicatulum hay ad libitum and were supplemented with concentrate containing0, 25, 50, 75 or 100 % SPP substitution for GC at 2 % of BW on dry matter basis for 104 days. The results showed thatgoats fed with concentrate containing 25, 50, 75 and 100 % SPP substitution for GC had similar feed intake (51.93,51.38, 59.31, and 53.32 g/kgBW0.75, respectively) when compared with the 0% SPP substitution for GC (52.34g/kgBW0.75). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) among treatments regarding crude protein digestibilitywhereas the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber and total digestible nutrient tended tobe decreased as an increasing of SPP level in the concentrate. There were also no significant differences (P>0.05)among treatments regarding ruminal fluid pH and NH3-N concentration. Furthermore, goats fed with concentratecontaining 25, 50, 75 and 100 % SPP substitution for GC had similar average daily gain (44.00, 32.23, 55.11 and40.89 g/d, respectively) and feed conversion ratio (9.88, 13.10, 9.20 and 11.07, respectively) when compared withthe 0 % SPP substitution for GC (44.22 g/d and 10.07, respectively). However, feed cost per 1 kg BW gain was lowerin goats fed with concentrate containing 25, 50, 75 or 100 % SPP substitution for GC (67.48, 78.25, 50.63 and 60.58baht/head, respectively) when compared with the 0 % SPP substitution for GC (105.17 baht/head). There were nosignificant differences (P>0.05) among treatments regarding dressing percentage, carcass length, carcass width andloin eye area which averaged 46.0 %, 49.34 cm, 24.00 cm and 6.48 cm2, respectively. It could be concluded that SPPsubstitution for GC in concentrate for Thai native male goat could be up to 100 %.