• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1249-1254
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• 2000

A study was conducted to evaluate the replacement value of Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium as nitrogen sources in commercial type supplements for dairy goats. Six crossbred $(Toggenburg{\times}Saanen)$ goats at late stage of lactation were allocated to three dietary treatments in a double $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. The animals were offered rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay ad libitum and supplemented with either Leucaena-based concentrate (LBC), Gliricidia-based concentrate (GBC) or commercial based concentrate (CC). Voluntary food intake, milk yield and composition and changes in live weight were measured. The total dry matter (DM) intake was higher (p<0.05) in goats fed GBC than CC (1385 vs 1331 g/d). The DM intake for LBC (1343 g/d) was similar to CC (1331 g/d). The DM intake of hay was also higher (p<0.05) in goats fed GBC (834 g/d) than those receiving LBC or CC (789, 782 g/d, respectively). Animals supplemented with GBC recorded positive (11 g/d) weight gain while the other groups lost weight (13, 19 g/d) for LBC and CC respectively, although these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The composition of milk were: butterfat 58, 49 and 55 g/kg; crude protein 37.0, 35.4 and 36.1 g/kg; lactose 33, 29 and 30 g/kg; Ash 8.5, 8.5 and 7.9 g/kg and total solids 136.5, 121.9 and 129.0 g/kg, for goats fed LBC, GBC and CC respectively. There were no differences in the composition of milk due to these dietary treatments. At the end of performance trial, a digestibility trial was conducted using 6 female goats allocated to the three treatments (LBC, GBC and CC) in an incomplete randomized block design and each goat received a different supplement in each of two successive periods. There were no differences in nutrient digestibility except for DM, which was higher (p<0.05) in CC compared to the other treatments (615, 622, 720 g/kg for LBC, GBC and CC, respectively). Economic analysis showed that CC diet was more expensive (0.20 US$/kg) and had a lower margin over supplementation (0.11 US$) compared to LBC and GBC (0.13 vs 0.12 US$/kg and 01.5 vs 0.12 US$, respectively). It is concluded that the Leucaena and Gliricidia could contribute as nitrogen sources in compounded diet supplements without any detrimental effects on production in dairy goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1238-1243
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• 2018

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding level on nutrient digestibility and enteric methane ($CH_4$) emissions in growing goats and Sika deer. Methods: Three growing male goats (initial body weight [BW] of $22.4{\pm}0.9kg$) and three growing male deer (initial BW of $20.2{\pm}4.8kg$) were each allotted to a respiration-metabolism chamber for an adaptation period of 7 d and a data collection period of 3 d. An experimental diet was offered to each animal at one of three feeding levels (1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5% of BW) in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. The chambers were used for measuring enteric $CH_4$ emission. Results: Nutrient digestibility decreased linearly in goats as feeding level increased, whereas Sika deer digestibility was not affected by feeding level. The enteric production of $CH_4$ expressed as g/kg dry matter intake (DMI), g/kg organic matter intake, and % of gross energy intake decreased linearly with increased feeding level in goats; however, that of Sika deer was not affected by feeding level. Six equations were estimated for predicting the enteric $CH_4$ emission from goats and Sika deer. For goat, equation 1 was found to be of the highest accuracy: $CH_4(g/d)=6.2({\pm}14.1)+10.2({\pm}7.01){\times}DMI(kg/d)+0.0048({\pm}0.0275){\times}dry$ matter digestibility (DMD, g/kg)-0.0070 (${\pm}0.0187$)${\times}$neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD; g/kg). For Sika deer, equation 4 was found to be of the highest accuracy: $CH_4(g/d)=-13.0({\pm}30.8)+29.4({\pm}3.93){\times}DMI(kg/d)+0.046(0.094){\times}DMD(g/kg)-0.0363({\pm}0.0636){\times}NDFD(g/kg)$. Conclusion: Increasing the feeding level increased $CH_4$ production in both goats and Sika deer, and predictive models of enteric $CH_4$ production by goats and Sika deer were estimated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.541-547
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• 2019

Objective: This study investigated the effects of photoperiod on nutrient digestibility, hair follicle (HF) activity and cashmere quality in Inner Mongolia white cashmere goats. Methods: Twenty-four female (non-pregnant) Inner Mongolia white cashmere goats aged 1 to 1.5 years old with similar live weights (mean, $20.36{\pm}2.63kg$) were randomly allocated into two groups: a natural daily photoperiod group (NDPP group:10 to 16 h light, n = 12) and a short daily photoperiod group (SDPP group: 7 h light:17 h dark, n = 12). All the goats were housed in individual pens and fed the same diets from May 15 to October 15, 2015. The digestibility of crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were measured in different months, along with secondary hair follicle (SHF) activity, concentration of melatonin (MEL), and cashmere quality. Results: Although there was no significant difference in the live weights of goats between the SDPP and NDPP groups (p>0.05), the CP digestibility of goats in the SDPP group was significantly increased compared to the NDPP group in July, September, and October (p<0.05). For the DM and NDF digestibility of goats, a significant increase (p<0.05) was found during in September in the SDPP group. Furthermore, compared to the NDPP group, the SHF activity in July, the MEL concentration in July, and the cashmere fiber length and fiber weight in October were significantly increased in the SDPP group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The cashmere production of Inner Mongolia white cashmere goats was increased without obvious deleterious effects on the cashmere fibers in the SDPP group (metabolizable energy, 8.34 MJ/kg; CP, 11.16%; short daily photoperiod, 7 h light:17 h dark).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.433-438
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• 2008

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1681-1689
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• 2011

The beneficial effects of tea catechins (TCs) are related not only to their antioxidant potential but also to the improvement of animal meat quality. In this study, we assessed the effects of dietary TC supplementation on plasma biochemical parameters, hormone responses, and glutathione redox status in goats. Forty Liuyang goats were randomly divided into four equal groups (10 animals/group) that were assigned to four experimental diets with TC supplementation at 4 levels (0, 2,000, 3,000 or 4,000 mg TC/kg DM feed). After a 60-day feeding trial, all goats were slaughtered and sampled. Dietary TC treatment had no significant effect on blood biochemical parameters, however, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.001), triglyceride (p<0.01), plasma urea nitrogen (p<0.01), and glucose (p<0.001) decreased and total protein (p<0.01) and albumin (p<0.05) increased with the feeding time extension, and day 20 was the turning point for most of changes. Interactions were found in glutathione (p<0.001) and the ratio of reduced and oxidized glutathione (p<0.05) in whole blood between treatment and feeding time. Oxidized glutathione in blood was reduced (p<0.05) by 2,000 mg TC/kg feed supplementation, and a similar result was observed in longissimus dorsi muscle. Though plasma glutathione peroxidase (p<0.01) and glutathione reductase (p<0.05) activities were affected by treatment and feeding time interactions, and glutathione S-transferases activity increased with feeding day extension, no changed values appeared in longissimus dorsi muscle. In conclusion, dietary TC supplementation affected the concentrations of some blood metabolites and accelerated GSH depletion in the blood of goats. In terms of less high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the highest insulin and IGF-I concentrations, the highest ratio of reduced and oxidized glutathione in plasma, the dosage of 2,000 mg TC/kg feed might be desirable for growing goats to prevent glutathione depletion and keep normal physiological metabolism.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 1991

This study was carried out to investigate fatty liver in Korean black goats. Adult female goats were divided into 3 test groups(A, B and C). Group A and B of goats each received 3 test consecutive daily doses of DL-ethionine at 75mg/kg and 150mg/kg body weight, respectively. Group C of goats was given 3 consecutive doses of the compound every 48 hours at 150mg/kg body weight. The clinical symptoms, hematological values, serum chemical values and histopathological study of the liver were investigated in the test animals. The results obtained are as follows ; 1. Fatty liver were observed in every test animal. 2. Some clinical symptoms( anorexia, depression) were appeared from 1st day to 7th day after administration of the compound in every test animal. In addition to these symptoms, diarrhea and salivation were generally observed in test animals which were given the compound at 150mg/kg body weight. The degree of these symptoms was dose dependent. 3. There was no significant variations in total WBC counts and fibrinogen values in the blood of test goats. The PCV values were significantly increased on 5th day of dosing in group A and B of goats. 4. The total lipid value was not changed but the concentration of NEFA was significantly increased on 3rd day of dosing with the compound and returned to normal value after 10 days hereafter. The value of triglycerides was significantly increased on 1st day and returned to normal value on 3rd day of dosing. The value of cholesterol was significantly decreased on 3rd day and returned to normal value on 10th day after treatment. 5. Total protein level was decreased on 10th day of dosing in the groups of B and C, and billirubin level was significantly increased on 7th day of dosing in every test group and returned to normal level after 13th day of administration. 6. The activity of GGT in serum was not changed while the activities of SDH and AST were significantly increased in every test goat and those values were returned to normal after 10~13th day of trestment. 7 The 35K-protein fraction in serum was not detected by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but this protein fraction was detected by the same method after treating the 21st and 22nd fraction which were obtained by column chromatography with Sephadex G-100. 8. The affected liver was congested and swollen on 3rd day, and yellowish brown in color and mottled appearance on 7th day of treatment. Histopathologically, fat droplets were common in the hepatocytes, this change was intensive on 7th day after treatment in group B and C. Hepatic cell necrosis was observed in some livers but this pathological change was disappeared and returned to normal after 13 days of treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1133-1139
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate effects of crude protein (CP) levels in total mixed rations (TMR) on growth performance and meat quality in growing Korean black goats. Thirty-six 6-month-old growing black male goats (initial body weight =17.95${\pm}$0.13 kg) were used. The goats were randomly divided into four treatments and 9 animals were allotted to each treatment. In terms of treatments, CP levels in TMR were 14, 16, 18, and 20% of dry matter (DM) and all diets were isocaloric (2.4 Mcal ME/kg DM). The experiment lasted for 20 weeks with a 15-day adaptation period. After the end of the trial, five goats from each treatment were slaughtered to measure carcass characteristics and meat quality. Average daily gain (ADG) significantly (p<0.05) increased as dietary CP levels increased, but the highest ADG was found on the 18% CP treatment. The higher CP levels in TMR significantly (p<0.05) decreased feed conversion ratio, but the lowest ratio was on the 18% CP treatment, suggesting a higher bioavailability of nutrients by balanced energy and protein levels on this treatment. There was no significant difference in dressing percentage among treatments, but there was a tendency for levels more than 16% CP in TMR to have a comparatively higher dressing percentage than the 14% treatment. The percentages of meat, fat and bone were not significantly influenced by dietary CP levels. Dietary CP levels did not influence chemical composition of goat meat. Furthermore, there was no significant difference among treatments in any of the sensory parameters except for tenderness. Tenderness was similar for 18 and 20% treatments, which were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the 14% treatment. The results from this study suggested that an adequate CP level in TMR for achieving optimal growth performance and meat quality of growing Korean black goats might be 18% of DM, and that dietary CP level above 18% seemed not to further increase growth performance and meat quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1719-1724
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• 2002

An investigation was made to evaluate the native range of western India in terms of nutrient supply during different physiological stages in goats. One hundred female and 5 male Kutchi adult goats were grazed on a 35 ha plot of native range. They were maintained on sole grazing. Four experiments, one in a defined physiological stage was carried out. Stage I, when maximum number of females were bred; stage II, when bucks were used for breeding purpose; stage III, 3-months old (weaner) kids were allowed to graze on ranges and stage IV, when the goats were in early stage of lactation. During oestrous period, diet contained 15.2% crude protein (CP), 54.0% neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 31.5% acid detergent fibre (ADF) and 12.6% acid detergent lignin (ADL). Digestibility coefficient of dry matter (DM), CP, NDF and ADF was 0.586,0.531, 0.431 and 0.239, respectively. DM, digestible crude protein (DCP) and metabolizable energy (ME) intakes were $82.7,\;6.71g\;kg^{-1}\;W^{0.75}$ and $0.99MJ\;kg^{-1}\;W^{0.75}$. Diet of buck was constituted by $230g\;kg^{-1}$ DM of grasses and forb and $770g\;kg^{-1}$ DM of tree foliage. CP, NDF, ADF and ADL contents of the diet were 13.6, 57.8, 43.5 and 20.0%, respectively. DM, DCP and ME intakes were $57.9,\;4.13g\;kg^{-1}\;W^{0.75}$ and $0.82MJ\;kg^{-1}\;W^{0.75}$. Digestibility coefficient of CP, NDF and ADF were 0.496, 0.432 and 0.346, respectively. Diet of kids was constituted by Prosopis cineraria ($900g\;kg^{-1}DM$) and Zizyphus nummularia ($100g\;kg^{-1}DM$) leaves. Digestibility of CP, NDF and ADF were 0.456, 0.415 and 0.201, respectively. DM, DCP and ME intakes were $85.8,\;6.44g\;kg^{-1}\;W^{0.75}$ and $1.22MJ\;kg^{-1}\;W^{0.75}$. Lactation phase of goat fell between October-December and tree foliage formed the major portion of the diet. Diet of lactating goat contained only 6.8% CP and 16.5% ADL. Digestibility of DM, CP, NDF and ADF was 0.567, 0.221, 0.307 and 0.233, respectively. DM, DCP and ME intakes were $108.2,\;1.62g\;kg^{-1}\;W^{0.75}$ and $1.50MJ\;kg^{-1}\;W^{0.75}$, respectively. Present study establishes that goats on semiarid range with sufficient number of fodder trees were able to meet the nutrient requirement of ewes during oestrous and bucks during breeding season. However, during lactation and active growth phase, only DM requirement is met. Thus, it is recommended to supplement concentrate mixture to goats grazing on range during lactation and growth phase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.699-707
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• 2002

Diets with foliage of Flemingia (Flemingia macrophylla) or Jackfruit (Artocapus heterophyllus were fed to goats with the objective to study nitrogen (N) balance and effect of a daily supplementation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on intake and digestion. In experiment 1, three male Alpine${\times}$Jamnapary goats with initial weights varying from 26.9 to 27.7 kg were used in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design in the dry season. Three Alpine${\times}$Bachthao crosses, 15.3-16.7 kg, were used in the same design in the wet season. The three diets were based on chopped whole sugar cane complemented with the two green foliages, Jackfruit and Flemingia, or soybean meal (SBM). The level of dry matter (DM) offered was 4% of body weight (BW), 2.7% as foliage and 1.3% as chopped whole sugar cane. The amount of SBM offered was calculated to give the same amount of crude protein (CP) as the foliages. Each experimental period lasted 32 days (14 days for adaptation, 7 days for collection and 10 days for rest). Feed intake, apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and retained nitrogen (N) were measured by total faecal and urine collection. In experiment 2, four male goats (Alpine${\times}$Jamnapary) with initial weights from 17.1 to 23.1 kg were used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The four treatments were Jackfruit or Flemingia with or without addition of PEG, which was fed at a level of 5 g/goat and day by mixing with a small amount of rice bran. Each experimental period lasted 15 days (8 days for adaptation, 7 days for collection). Measurements were done as in experiment 1. The DM digestibility was highest (65.9-74.3%) for goats fed the SBM diet in both the dry and wet season. The DM digestibility of goats fed the Jackfruit and the Flemingia diets was similar in both the dry (58.6-59.2% respectively) and the wet season (53.9-56.1% respectively). The CP digestibility was highest (73.0-73.6%) for the SBM diet followed by the Jackfruit diet (47.0-38.5%) and was lowest (36.8-30.0%) for the Flemingia diet in both dry and wet seasons, respectively. The NDF digestibility was low for both the Jackfruit (36.4%) and Flemingia (38.0%) diets in the wet season. All diets resulted in a positive N balance. The N retention was highest (0.465-0.604 g/kg $W^{0.75}$) in the SBM diets and lowest (0.012-0.250 g/kg $W^{0.75}$) in the Flemingia diet. Addition of PEG had no effect on feed intake for any of the diets. PEG added in the Flemingia diet had a positive effect only on NDF digestibility, but the digestibility of the Jackfruit diet was significantly increased. Supplementation with PEG reduced digestibility and N retention of Flemingia, possibly because of the low tannin level, but increased digestibility and N retention for Jackfruit foliage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.966-972
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• 2005

A study to compare the effects of supplementing Delonix elata, Grewia similis, Tamarindus indica and sunflower seed cake on intake and growth rate of dual-purpose goats fed low quality Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) hay was carried out. Twenty-eight male goats aged five to seven months (mean weight 12.93${\pm}$3.94 kg) were randomly allocated to four dietary groups in a completely randomised design. The diets were hay plus Grewia similis, hay plus Delonix elata, hay plus Tamarindus indica and hay plus sunflower seed cake. All diets were supplemented with maize bran. The experimental period was 90 days. Voluntary dry matter intake of the supplements was higher for Tamarindus indica (275.5 g/day) and Grewia similis (201.8 g/day) and lowest for sunflower seed cake (81g/day). Goats supplemented with Grewia similis had the highest hay intake (183.8 g/day) while those supplemented with sunflower seed cake had the lowest hay intake (98.9 g/day). Animals fed browse supplements gained significantly more weight (p<0.001) than those with sunflower seed cake. There were no significant differences in live weight change between goats fed the different browses. However, those fed Tamarindus indica gained an average of 20.79 g/d which was slightly higher than the gains for those on Grewia similis and Delonix elata while those fed sunflower seed cake lost weight. Correspondingly, goats supplemented with browse leaf meals had higher feed conversion ratios than those supplemented with sunflower seed cake and required 23.91 to 35.06 g DM of feed to produce one g of weight gain per day. In a separate study, the DM disappearance pattern indicated that Grewia similis and Delonix elata were highly degradable compared to Tamarindus indica. At 24 h of incubation, DM degradability was 627, 588 and 345 g/kg DM for Grewia similis, Delonix elata and Tamarindus indica, respectively. In another study in vivo DM digestibility ranged from 46.1% (for hay alone) to 56.2% (for hay plus Grewia similis). It was concluded that the addition of Tamarindus indica, Grewia similis and Delonix elata leaf meals to Cenchrus ciliaris hay resulted in increased total DM intake, in vivo digestibility and growth rate. Therefore, leaf meals of indigenous browses particularly Tamarindus indica and Grewia similis could be used as supplementary feeds for small ruminants grazing on poor quality roughages during the dry season rather than use of expensive, less effective and intermittently available sunflower seed cake.