Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part C (2024)

Author(s): Preetam Sangam, Hayavadana GR, Jaishankar N, Chethan KP, Shivakumar MC, Naveen Kumar GS and Sathisha KB

Abstract: Twenty non-descriptive goats kids of Hassan (age: 3-4 months; average body wt. (7.97 kg) were housed in individual cages at the experimental animal shed, LFC, Veterinary College, Hassan. The pilot study was conducted for duration of 24 days. COFS-29 was freshly chopped daily and was fed to animals ad libitum. The daily allowance of 50g concentrate feed mixture was weighed and offered twice a day at 12.00 AM and 4.00 PM. Roughage and concentrate intake was recorded and total matter intake was calculated and presented per kg metabolic body weight and percent body weight. The nutrient composition was on par with maize fodder. Daily roughage dry matter intake was 136.99g, which was 1.68 percent body weight and 24.85g per kg metabolic body weight. Similarly the concentrate dry matter intake was 43.89 g per day, 0.5 percent body weight and 9.07 g per kg metabolic body weight. The total dry matter intake was 180.88 g per day, 2.23 percent body weight and 37.52 g per kg metabolic body weight was observed. The concentrate feed was restricted during the pilot study to maximize the roughage dry matter intake. the nutrients consumed could meet the maintenance requirement. Hence, concluded that the CoFS-29 fodder can be used as a sole roughage source to conduct further studies on assessment of growth potentiality of non-descriptive goat kids of Hassan.