• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.547-554
• /
• 1994

This paper presents the effects of supplementary feeding and internal parasites on the growth rates of female weaner goats raised under improved management. A completely randomized $3{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial design was used. Factors were genotype (Thai native: TN, 75% TN $\times$ 25% Anglo-Nubian: An and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN), feeding grazing only, low (1.0% BW/d) and high (1.5% BW/d) supplementation and parasite control (undrenched and drenched). It was shown that native goats had significantly (p<0.05) higher growth rates than did the cross-bred goats from 12-24 weeks of the trial. The growth rate of goats grazing improved pasture depended on the amount of concentrate offered as a supplement. There was no significant difference in growth rates between undrenched and drenched goats. There was no interaction effect on growth rates between the treatments. Drenched goats had significantly (p<0.01) lower egg counts per gram of gastro-intestinal nematode than did undrenched goats. There was no significant difference between the treatments for blood constituents (total protein, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and basophils).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.289-294
• /
• 1994

This report deals with the effect of levels of concentrate supplementary feeding (Nil, 0.25% BW and 0.75% BW) on the productivity of different genotypes (Thai native (TN), 25% Anglo-Nubian (AN), 50% AN and 75% AN) of female goats grazing newly established pasture in a tropical area. The major species of grass was Brachiaria mutica (33%) and of legumes was Centrosema pubescens (34%). There was no significant (p>0.05) difference between nil and 0.25% BW supplementary feeding for growth rate ($g/kg^{0.75}/d$). However, goats fed 0.75% BW supplementary feeding had significantly (p<0.01) higher growth rates than did other treatments. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference among genotypes and between age for growth rate. There was no interaction between feeding and genotype for growth rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.241-247
• /
• 1995

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of internal parasites on growth rates of Thai Native (TN) and crossbred (75% TN $\times$ 25% Anglo-Nubian, AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN) goats (undrenched, drenched every 3 weeks or at 9 weeks) in village environments in southern Thailand in a humid tropical climate. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in growth rate ($g/kg^{0.75}/d$) between the genotypes during unsupplemented grazing (0-64 days of the experimental period). However, during supplementary feeding (64-127 days) and throughout the period (0-127 days) TN goats had significantly (p < 0.01) lower growth rates compared with 75% TN $\times$ 25% AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN goats. There was no (p > 0.05) significant difference in growth rates between 75% TN $\times$ 25% AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50 % AN goats. The growth rates of goats drenched every 3 weeks were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those undrenched or drenched at 9 weeks. The results of this study also indicate that drenching alone did not result in increased weight gain except when the nutritional status was also improved. Parasitic infection affected some blood constituents, such as pack cell volume, haemoglobin, total protein and albumin. This resulted in lower growth rates for control groups and goats drenched at 9 weeks compared to those of goats drenched every 3 weeks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.255-261
• /
• 1995

This paper presents results from a study of the effects of age and sex on body and carcass composition of different goat genotypes. A completely randomized $3{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial design was used. Factors were genotype (Thai Native; TN, $50%TN{\times}50%$ Anglo-Nubian (AN) and $25%TN{\times}75%AN$ goats), age ($206{\pm}8$, $349{\pm}9$ and $428{\pm}8days$ or 6.9, 11.6 and 14.3 months, respectively) and sex (male and female). It was shown that TN kids had significantly higher (p < 0.05) hind percentage (7.9%) compared with $50%TN{\times}50% AN$ (7.2%) and $25%TN{\times}75%AN$ (7.1 %) kids. TN kids had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher heart percentage (0.44%) than that of $25%TN{\times}75%AN$ kids (0.38%). However, there was no significant difference in heart percentage between TN and $50%TN{\times}50%AN$ and between $50% TN{\times}50%AN$ and $25%TN{\times}75%AN$ kids. TN and $50%TN{\times}50%AN$ kids had significantly higher (p < 0.05) carcass muscle content (63.1 and 63.7%, respectively) than did $25%TN{\times}75%AN$ kids (59.9%). Kids at 6.9 months of age had significantly higher percentages of hide, feet, intestinal tract, liver, heart, kidneys and carcass bone than those of kids at 11.6 and 14.3 months of age. There were no significant differences in these characteristics between kids at 11.6 and 14.3 months of age. However, kids at 11.6 and 14.3 months of age had significantly higher percentages of omental fat, dressing carcass, muscle, total fat (subcutaneous + intermuscular + kidney and pelvic fat), muscle to bone ratios (MBR), and muscle plus fat to bone ratios (MFBR) than those of kids at 6.9 months. Males had significantly higher gut contents, but lower percentages of liver, omental fat and heart. Prediction equations were developed relating empty body weight (EBW) to hot carcass weight and some dissectible carcass fractions.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.1022-1028
• /
• 2021

Objective: Supplemental nitrate is known to be an effective tool to mitigate methane emission by ruminants. Based on theoretical considerations, supplemental nitrate can improve but also deteriorate the growth performance. The overall effect of supplemental nitrate on growth performance, however, is not yet known. The objective of the current study was therefore to evaluate the effect of a higher dose of NO3- on overall growth performance when feeding either Pangola grass hay or rice straw. Methods: Thirty-two crossbred, 3-month-old Thai native×Anglo-Nubian crossbred male goats were used. The experiment had a 2×2 factorial design with an experimental period of 60 days. Eight goats were randomly allocated to each dietary treatment, i.e. a ration containing either Pangola hay (Digitaria eriantha Steud) or rice straw (Oryza Sativa) as a source of roughage, supplemented with a concentrate containing either 3.2% or 4.8% potassium nitrate. The rations were formulated to be isonitrogenous. The animals were weighed at the start of the experiment and at days 30 and 60. Feces were collected during the last five days of each 30-day period. Results: High-nitrate increased overall DM intake by approximately 3%, irrespective the source of roughage, but only the goats fed a rice straw-based ration responded with an increase in body weight (BW). Thus, the overall feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg BW gain) was influenced by roughage source ×nitrate and decreased by almost 60% when the goats were fed rice straw in combination with a high versus a low dietary nitrate content. The digestibility of macronutrients was only affected by the source of roughage and the digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fibre was greater when the goats were fed Pangola hay. Conclusion: It was concluded that the replacement of soybean meal by nitrate improves the growth performance of meat goats fed rations based on rice straw, but not Pangola hay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.811-818
• /
• 2017

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of fungal treated oil palm fronds (FTOPF) on performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and muscle chemical composition. Methods: Eighteen growing crossbred male goats (Thai Native${\times}$Anglo Nubian) with $18.7{\pm}2.0kg$ of initial body weight (BW) were stratified and blocked by BW in a randomized complete block design. Three diets containing 30% of oil palm fronds (OPF) either untreated (UOPF) or treated with Lentinussajor-caju (FTOPF) with or without urea (FTOPFU) were used as roughage sources in total mixed rations (TMRs). The diets were offered ad libitum and weight gain was determined. At the end of the experimental period, the harvest data and carcass characteristics of the goats were recorded, and muscular longissimus dorsi composition was determined. Results: No significant effect of fungal treated (FT) inclusion was observed in any of the feed intake, growth performance, and carcass characteristics. Likewise, no apparent effects on carcass composition and muscle chemical composition were detected in this study, except for hind leg and chump were affected (p<0.05) by FT inclusion. Conclusion: In conclusion, feeding of fungal (Lentinussajor-caju) treated oil palm frond in TMR diet did not affect performance and carcass characteristics in finishing goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.563-570
• /
• 1994

Fifty-one Thai Native (TN) and Anglo-Nubian (AN) $\times$ TN does were studied. The purpose of the study was to investigate the reproductive performances of different goat genotypes grazing improved pasture with or without supplementary feeding. The feeding regimes were: 1. no concentrate supplement (T1), 2. supplemented for 15 days before mating and 45 days during mating period (T2), 3. supplemented from 15 days before mating to 42 days after kidding (T3) and 4. supplemented for 30 days before kidding, followed by 42 days after kidding. Cross-bred does tended to have higher conception rates, kidding opportunities and higher multiple birth rates than TN does. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05), and concentrate supplementation under the various regimes did not increase reproductive performance. TN kids had significantly (p<0.01) lower birth weights and lower weights at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of age than those of the cross-bred kids. However, there was no significant difference between the genotypes in growth rate (g/d or $g/kg^{75}/d$) of kids during these periods. Supplementary feeding did not significantly affect either kid birth weight or weight gain in the first 6 weeks after birth and during this period supplementary adequate in both quantity and quality, substantial reproductive performances were achieved from both TN and AN $\times$ TN does without concentrate supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.1111-1119
• /
• 2016

Mao seed is a by-product of the wine and juice industry, which could be used in animal nutrition. The current study was designed to determine the effect of supplementation of mao (Antidesma thwaitesianum Muell. Arg.) seed meal (MOSM) containing condensed tannins (CT) on rumen fermentation, nitrogen (N) utilization and microbial protein synthesis in goats. Four crossbred (Thai Native${\times}$Anglo Nubian) goats with initial body weight (BW) $20{\pm}2kg$ were randomly assigned to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The four dietary treatments were MOSM supplementation at 0%, 0.8%, 1.6%, and 2.4% of total dry matter (DM) intake, respectively. During the experimental periods, all goats were fed a diet containing roughage to concentrate ratio of 60:40 at 3.0% BW/d and pangola grass hay was used as a roughage source. Results showed that supplementation with MOSM did not affect feed intake, nutrient intakes and apparent nutrient digestibility (p>0.05). In addition, ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) were not influenced by MOSM supplementation, whilst blood urea nitrogen was decreased quadraticly (p<0.05) in goats supplemented with MOSM at 2.4% of total DM intake. Propionate was increased linearly with MOSM supplementation, whereas acetate and butyrate were remained the same. Moreover, estimated ruminal methane ($CH_4$) was decreased linearly (p<0.05) when goats were fed with MOSM at 1.6% and 2.4% of total DM intake. Numbers of bacteria and protozoa were similar among treatments (p>0.05). There were linear decreases in urinary N (p<0.01) and total N excretion (p<0.01) by MOSM supplementation. Furthermore, N retention was increased linearly (p<0.05) when goats were fed with MOSM supplementation at 1.6% and 2.4% of total DM intake. Microbial protein synthesis were not significantly different among treatments (p>0.05). From the current study, it can be concluded that supplementation of MOSM at 1.6% to 2.4% of total DM intake can be used to modify ruminal fermentation, especially propionate and N utilization in goats, without affecting the nutrient digestibility, microbial populations and microbial protein synthesis.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.218-228
• /
• 2023

Objective: This study investigated the effects of feeding anthocyanin-rich black cane treated with ferrous sulfate and molasses on animal performance, rumen fermentation, microbial composition, blood biochemical indices, and carcass characteristics in meat goats. Methods: Thirty-two Thai-native×Anglo-Nubian crossbred male goats (14.47±2.3 kg) were divided equally into two groups (n = 16) to investigate the effect of feeding diet containing 50% untreated anthocyanin-rich black cane silage (BS) vs diet containing anthocyaninrich black cane silage treated with 0.03% ferrous sulfate and 4% molasses (TBS) on average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI). At the end of 90 d feeding trial, the goats were slaughtered to determine blood biochemical indices, rumen fermentation, microbial composition, and carcass characteristics differences between the two dietary groups. Results: Goats fed the TBS diet had greater ADG and ADG to DMI ratio (p<0.05). TBS diet did not affect rumen fluid pH; however, goats in the TBS group had lower rumen ammonia N levels (p<0.05) and higher total volatile fatty acid concentrations (p<0.05). Goats in the TBS group had a higher (p<0.05) concentration of Ruminococcus albus but a lower (p<0.05) concentration of methanogenic bacteria. The TBS diet also resulted in lower (p<0.05) thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances concentration but higher (p<0.05) total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase concentrations in blood plasma, while having no effect on plasma protein, glucose, lipid, immunoglobin G, alanine transaminase, and aspartate aminotransferase. Meat from goats fed the TBS diet contained more intramuscular fat (p<0.05) and was more tender (p<0.05). Conclusion: In comparison to goats fed a diet containing 50% untreated anthocyanin-rich black cane silage, feeding a diet containing 50% anthocyanin-rich black cane silage treated with 0.03% ferrous sulfate and 4% molasses improved rumen fermentation and reduced oxidative stress, resulting in higher growth and more tender meat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.365-374
• /
• 2014

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing concentrations of crude glycerin (CGLY) in diets on nutrient utilization, ruminal fermentation characteristics, and nitrogen utilization of goats. Four male crossbred (Thai Native${\times}$Anglo Nubian) goats, with an average initial weight of $26{\pm}3.0$ kg, were randomly assigned according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design with four 21 days consecutive periods. Treatments diets contained 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20% of dietary DM of CGLY. Based on this experiment, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among treatment groups regarding DM intake and digestion coefficients of nutrients (DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF, and ADF). Likewise, mean serum glucose, BHBA, and PCV concentrations were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatments, whereas serum insulin concentration linearly increased (L, p = 0.002) with increasing the amount of CGLY supplementation. Ruminal pH, $NH_3$-N, and BUN concentration were unchanged by dietary treatments, except for 20% of CGLY, $NH_3$-N, and BUN were lower (p<0.05) than for the diets 10% of CGLY, while the difference between the diets 0%, 5%, and 20% of CGLY were not significant. The amount of N absorption and retention were similar among treatments. Based on this study, CGLY levels up to 20% in total mixed ration could be efficiently utilized for goats and this study elucidates a good approach to exploiting the use of biodiesel production for goat production.