Effects of levels of palm kernel cake in concentrate on rumen ecology and nitrogen balance in goats fed with Paspalum plicatulum hay-based diet

Abstract

This experiment aimed to study effect of levels of palm kernel cake (PKC) in concentrate ondry matter intake and rumen fermentation. Five goats with average liveweight 20+1 kg were randomly assignedaccording to a 5x5 Latin square design to receive five diets (15, 25, 35, 45 and 55% PKC, respectively). Plicatulumhay was offered on ad lib basis. Based on this experiment, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) amongtreatments regarding DM intake, whereas apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF were affected(P<0.01) by inclusion of PKC in diets and tended to be slightly lower for goats fed the diet T4 and T5 containing 45and 55% PKC as compared with other treatments. The ruminal pH and NH3-N were similar among treatments (P>0.05).Volatile fatty acids, rumen microorganism populations and efficiency of microbial nitrogen supply were similaramong treatments (P>0.05), but nitrogen balance was affected (P<0.01) by inclusion of PKC in diets and tended to beslightly lower for goats fed the diet 45 and 55% PKC as compared with other treatments. It could be concluded thatthe level of PKC in concentrate should be 15-35 % for goat fed with plicatulum hay.