Effect of feeding fallen leaf meal mixture-based total mix ration on growth, nutrient utilization and cost of feeding of Assam hill goat

Introduction

Goat farming plays an important role in rural livelihoods, but seasonal feed shortages often limit productivity. Total mix ration is a precise blend of all the essential feed ingredients like forage, grains, proteins, mineral and vitamins, which are thoroughly blended into a single, uniform, balanced diet for livestock. Feeding a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) containing mixed tree leaves to goats generally improves growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality while reducing feeding costs. Tree leaves are naturally rich in proteins and minerals like calcium and phosphorus, providing a steady supply of nutrients across seasons. Diets containing high-quality tree leaves like Moringa or Mulberry (up to 40% of the TMR) significantly increase average daily gain (ADG) and total weight gain compared to conventional feeding systems. Jack fruit leaf (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Neem (Azadirecta indica) leaves are abundant throughout Assam and neighbouring states, which can be designated as fallen waste material or waste agricultural byproducts. These are rich in various nutrients and can easily be fed to the ruminant livestock to achieve better growth performance as well as to reduce the feed cost. Feeding these TMR containing fallen tree leaves is significant from the point of feeding management during the scarcity period or during the period of natural calamity like flood. Hence, keeping in view to the availability of fallen tree leaves in our places and their significance as feed during the time of scarcity, it was thought desirable to undertake a study on 'Effect of feeding Fallen Leaf Meal Mixture based total mix ration on growth, nutrient utilisation and cost of feeding in Assam Hill Goat.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted in the Goat Research Station, Burnihat, Assam Veterinary and Fishery University. Eighteen (18) numbers of Assam Hill Goat kids were randomly distributed into three groups as T 0, T 1 , and T 2 by using randomised block design (RBD) and fed with Total Mix Ration containing Napier grass and concentrate mixture, where the concentrate mixture was replaced with Fallen Leaf Meal Mixture (FLMM) at 0, 25 and 50 per cent levels. The FLMM was prepared by mixing fallen Jack fruit leaf (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves at equal proportions. The trial was conducted for a period of 90 days, including 5days digestive trial. During the period of trial, a measured quantity of TMR was fed to the kids twice a day; viz morning and evening. The residue left was weighed every day to calculate the daily feed consumption by the kids. Blood was collected, and a 5-day digestive trial was conducted at the end of the trial.

Result and Discussion

Growth performance

The total and average daily feed intake, total gain, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio have been presented in Table: 3. The total and average daily feed intake showed no significant difference between group T 0 and T [2] mentioned that Sirohi goat kids supplemented with different levels of Moringa oleifera leaves showed higher feed intake at a 10% supplementation level. Sultana et al. (2028) [5] studied the effects of Moringa oleifera supplementation on carcass characteristics and meat quality in goat kids, confirming that inclusion of dried leaf meal mixtures increased total feed intake at moderate levels. Khairuddin et al. (2023) [8] reported that, feeding growing goats by replacing concentrate feed with Moringa oleifera dried leaves up to 10% significantly improved feed intake and utilization, and body weight gain without any harmful effect. Rahman et al. (2015) [7] also reported that the diets of goats may be supplemented with tree forages of S. grandiflora, L. leucocephala, E. orientalis and M. alba for improved growth performance. The growth performance study results in this study were similar with the reports of these previous studies.

Blood biochemical profile

The blood biochemical parameters viz; Aspertate transferase (U/L), Alanine transaminase (U/L), Alkaline phosphatase (U/L), Lactate dehydrogenase (U/L)and blood glucose(g/dl) are presented in Table: 4. All the groups are significantly (p<0.01) different among them in case of Aspertate transferase (U/L), Alanine transaminase(U/L), Alkaline phosphatase(U/L) content in blood. However, values in all the groups are under normal range. Lactate dehydrogenase (U/L) and Blood glucose (mg/dl) values in all the groups are below the normal range, and a significant difference (p<0.01) exists among the three groups. Low Lactate dehydrogenase is typically not considered as a health problem. The reduction in glucose levels in groups suggests impaired carbohydrate metabolism, possibly due to high fibre content and antinutritional factors in the diet. Studies by Makkar et al. (2022) [1] reported that high tannin diets in ruminants can reduce glucose absorption by inhibiting carbohydratedigesting enzymes. In case of ALT levels, in all the groups, it was under the normal level. However, there is a significant difference among the groups (p<0.01), suggesting an increase in liver enzyme activity, potentially due to higher metabolic demands or mild hepatic stress. Kholif et al. (2022) [4] reported that goats supplemented with Moringa leaf meal showed increased ALT levels, indicating a response to bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites. A similar result was observed in the case of the AST level also. No significant difference was observed in total serum protein content in different treatment groups. The non-significant changes in total serum albumin levels observed may reveal that the inclusion of Dried Leaf Meal Mixture maintained a stable protein metabolism across all treatment groups. A similar finding was reported by Abdel-Rahman et al. (2019) [3] , who found that feeding Moringa oleifera seed meal at different inclusion levels did not significantly affect serum albumin levels in goats. Inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in the goat ration proved to be effective. Replacement of concentrate mixture @ 50% with M. oleifera leaf meal significantly increased haematological parameters (Biswal et al., 2022) [6] Cost of feeding The cost of feeding (Rs) per kg gain in body weight was lowest in group T 1 (134.12±5.32).

Conclusion

From the above study, it may be concluded that Fallen Leaf Meal Mixture can be incorporated in the total mix ration of goats, replacing 25% of concentrate with enhanced growth performance and distinct economic advantage. These findings offer practical options for goat farmers to enhance productivity and food security using locally available resources.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementThe authors duly acknowledge ICAR-AICRP on Goat improvement.

References

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