Effect of Supplementation of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seeds as Feed Additive on Nutrient Utilization and Growth Performance in Goats
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Date
2018
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Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner
Abstract
In an attempt to assess the possibilities of utilization of fenugreek
seeds as feed additive to achieve maximum efficiency of feed utilization from
groundnut straw based complete feed, an experiment was conducted in two
phases. In the first phase, chemical composition of feed ingredients was
determined and fenugreek seeds were supplemented in groundnut straw
based complete feed at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% level for in vitro studies. The
IVDMD, IVOMD and IVTGP were determined for groundnut straw based
complete feed using rumen liquor obtained from donor goats to arrive at
optimum level of incorporation of fenugreek seeds in complete feed. In
second phase, a growth trial of 90 days followed by metabolism trial was
undertaken on 12 male Marwari goat kids (3-4 months old) divided in two
groups of six each in a randomized block design using the groundnut straw
based complete feed with optimum level of fenugreek seeds selected on the
basis of results of in vitro studies, to assess the in vivo efficiency of nutrient
utilization and growth performance in goat kids. Rumen and haemato
biochemical parameters were also studied to ascertain the effect of
supplementation of fenugreek seeds as feed additive on rumen fermentation
pattern and physiological status of experimental animals.
In vitro studies revealed highly significant (P<0.01) effect of fenugreek
seeds supplementation on IVDMD, IVOMD and IVTGP. Significantly higher
IVDMD, IVOMD and IVTGP were recorded at 3% level of inclusion of
fenugreek seeds in groundnut straw based complete feed.
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In second phase, highly significant (P<0.01) effect of treatment was
observed on average daily gain (g/d), total body weight gain (kg) and
digestibility of DM, OM and NFE. Whereas, significant (P<0.05) effect of
treatment on digestibility of CP and CF, % DCP, % TDN, DE and ME (kcal/g),
and intake of digestible nutrients i.e. DDMI, DOMI, DCPI and TDNI in term of
g/d was observed. The effect of fenugreek seeds as feed additive on DMI, OMI in term of g/d, % kg BW and g/kgW0.75, body measurements like body
height, length and girth, FCR, digestibility of EE, intake and balance of N and
minerals (Ca and P) balances, intake of digestible nutrients i.e. DDMI, DOMI, DCPI and TDNI in term of % kg BW and g/kg W0.75 and various haemato
biochemical parameters i.e. blood glucose, total serum protein, serum ALT
and serum AST were found to be non-significant.
Studies on rumen parameters revealed highly significant (P<0.01)
effect of period on pH, TVFA, total protozoa count, NH3-N, total nitrogen,
TCA-precipitable nitrogen and NPN. Supplementation of fenugreek seeds
also significantly (P<0.01) improved the rumen fermentation, resulting in
increased TVFA, total nitrogen and TCA-precipitable nitrogen, decreased total
protozoa count and NH3-N in treatment group. Whereas, non-significant effect
of treatment was observed on pH and NPN.
Contemplating the findings of present study, it could be concluded that
supplementation of fenugreek seeds at 3% level as feed additive in complete
feed could be a viable proposition to improve the nutrient utilization in goats.
Further, supplementation of fenugreek seeds as feed additive could be a
practically viable strategy that can be adopted to improve performance of
goats and to have sustainable goat production in arid conditions.
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