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: The study was conducted to assess the growth potentiality of non-descriptive goat kids of Hassan reared under an intensive system of management. Goat kids aged 3-4 months were selected, to estimate dry matter intake fed with COFS-29 as a sole roughage source ad libitum and concentrate feed mixture to meet the requirements as per ICAR 2013 at maintenance level (T₁) and to support 25 g/d (T₂), 75 g/d (T₃), and 125 g/d (T₄) daily body weight gain. The production cost of fodder was estimated and the cost per kg of concentrate feed mixture was determined. Fodder intake and concentrate intake was recorded every day, the composition of both roughage and concentrate was estimated, the weekly body weight of animals were recorded to estimate body weight gain. Total investment and return at the end of the trial was determined to assess the benefit cost ratio. The total input cost for the experimental duration of 90 days for T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ groups was Rs. 3562.9, 3642.3, 3989.7 and 4135.4 respectively. The total returns from the sale of goat kids and manure sold in T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ was Rs. 4398.7, 4874.5, 5857.8 and 6479.2, respectively and the corresponding benefit cost ratio was 1.2, 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 respectively. Therefore it is concluded that feeding of ad libitum roughage and concentrate feed mixture at 75g/d was economically better to ac body weight gains and economic returns.