Utilization of Pineapple Waste as Roughage Source in Goats

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the utilization of pineapple waste as roughage source in goats. In experiment 1, eight Thai Native×Anglo-Nubian 50% crossbred male goats, 2 years old, with average body weight (BW) of 37±2.33 kg, were used in 4×4 replicate Latin square design. The goat was offered 4 sources of roughage:plicatulum hay (T1), pineapple waste (T2), plicatulum hay and pineapple waste at the ratio of 1:10 w/w (T3) and plicatulum hay and pineapple waste at the ratio of 1:20 w/w (T4). All goats were supplemented with concentrate at 0.50%of BW on dry matter. The results showed that the apparent digestibility coefficient of the dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber and total digestible nutrient (TDN) of goats fed T2 and T4 diets were not significantly different (P>0.05), but higher (P<0.01) than the group fed T1 diet. However, crude protein (CP), nitrogen free extract (NFE) and acid detergent fiber digestibility of all groups were similar among treatments (P>0.05). Nitrogen retention of goats fed T3 diet was higher (P<0.01) than the other groups. Average ruminal pH of goats fed T2, T3 and T4 diet (6.69, 6.69 and 6.6, respectively) were lower than that of T1 diet. Ruminal NH3-Nconcentration of all groups ranged from 6.07-9.91 mg/dl (P>0.05). In experiment 2, sixteen Thai Native×Anglo-Nubian 50 % crossbred male goats with average BW of 18±2.84kg, were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 replications and 4 groups as following, plicatulum hay (T1), pineapple waste (T2), plicatulum hay and pineapple waste at the ratio of 1:10 w/w (T3) and plicatulum hay and pineapple waste at the ratio of 1:20 w/w (T4). All goats were fed roughage ad libitum and supplemented with concentrate at 2 % of BW on dry matter. The experimental period was 90 days. Feed intake, weight gain and growth rate were not significantly different among treatments (P>0.05). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) but feed conversion ratio of the groups fed T2, T3 and T4 diets were higher (P<0.01) than the group fed T1 diet. Ruminal pH and NH3-N concentration were normal range.