Effect of oil palm frond silage mixed with different levels of molasses on intake and nutrient utilization in goat

Abstract

This experiment aimed to study effect of levels of molasses in oil palm frond silage on dry matter intake, digestibility coefficient, nitrogen balance and rumen fermentation characteristics in goats. Four Thai Native x Anglo-Nubian 50% crossbred male goat, 2.7-2.8 years old with average body weight (BW) of 35.1+1.6 kg, were arranged in 4x4 Latin Square design. The goats were fed with oil palm frond silage mixed with molasses 0, 2, 4 and 6 % ad libitum and supplemented with concentrate at 0.5 % of BW on dry matter basis. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) among treatments regarding nutrient intake and digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. Nitrogen balance, pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration in rumen fluid, pack cell volumn, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood glucose of all groups were also not significantly differences (P>0.05). Thus, oil palm frond silage mixed with 2-6 % molasses as a roughage source, had no effect on intake and nutrient utilization in goat.