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Matching Livestock Systems with Available Resources |
MEKARN Regional Conference 2007 |
Sixteen growing goats weighing 11 ± 1 kg, in a randomized complete block design were used to evaluate Moringa oleifera in combination with other forages. The four experimental diets were: 0:25:75, 25:50:25, 50:25:25 and 75:0:25 for Moringa oleifera: Leucaena leucocephala: Briachiaria mutica (para grass), respectively. The study lasted for 75 days, comprising 60 days of growth study and 5 days digestion trial.
Performance of goats fed the diets with 0, 25 and 50% Moringa supported similar growth rates of 89 to 77 g/day, dry matter intakes of 3.21-2.92% BW and feed conversion of 6.65 - 6.74. Performance of goats fed 75% of Moringa was significantly reduced with growth rate of 48 g/day, dry matter intake of 2.57% BW and feed conversion of 8.29. The dry matter and protein apparent digestibility by goats on Moringa 50 and 75% were higher than the goats on 0 and 25% Moringa. Nitrogen balance was not different among treatments.
It is concluded that Moringa is well accepted by goats provided it does not exceed 50% of the diet in combination with other forages.