Potential of Merremia peltata Merr as forage source for goat:

biomass and intake

                                              Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Luu Thi Nhan, Ly Thi Luyen, Khuc Thi Hue

                                                      Goat and Rabbit Research Center Sontay, Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract 

 Twelve male goats weaned kids with an initial weight of 14.5 kg and at around 4-5 months of age were used to study Potential of Merremia peltata Merras forage source for goat about biomass, feed intake, live weight gain (LWG), and feed cost.

The goats were randomly assigned to three treatments in a completely randomised design. The experiment consists of 3 diets with different feeding foliage and the rumen supplement (contains 10% urea, 20% molasses, 2% sulphur, 5% calcium phosphate, 5% salt and 58% rice bran) is fed on all treatments at 2 g per 1 kg live weight and 1% cassava chip. The treatments were three diets containing Guinea grass ad libitum with Cassava foliage (GG-CF), and Merremia peltata (GG-MP).The experiment was carried out for 90 days. There was a significant difference in dry matter intake (DMI) among treatments.The total DM intake ranged from 362.05g to 447.74 g/day.

The crude protein (CP) content in the Merremia peltata and the Cassava foliage was 14 % and 16.2% in DM, respectively.

The live weight gain (LWG) was 45g, 83g, and 75 g/day, respectively.

Key words: Merremia peltata, guine grass, cassava foliage, goats, growth.