Effect of  Mimosa pigra and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)  on intake, digestibility and growth of goats in Mekong Delta, Vietnam
 

Nguyen Thi Thu Hong and Nguyen The Lam

 Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary,
Angiang Uniiversity, Vietnam
ntthong@agu.edu.vn

The experiment was conducted on-farm at Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province during 110 days to evaluate the feeding value of Mimosa pigra as a feed for goats. Sixteen growing male goats (10+3 kg) were allocated to 4 diets according to a 2*2 factorial arrangement with 4 replications. The four  treatments were: Mimosa fresh ad libitum (MF); Mimosa wilted ad libitum (MW); Mimosa fresh  with Water spinach (MFS) and Mimosa wilted with Water spinach (MWS).

Digestion coefficients of dry matter and crude protein and live weight gain were highest for Mimosa fresh  supplemented with water spinach.

Key words: Goat, Mimosa pigra, water spinach, intake, digestibility