Effect of Crude Protein and Total Digestible Nutrient Levels on Intake, Digestibility, Nitrogen and Energy Utilization in Growing Dairy Goats

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of increases of nutrient level of TMR on dry matter intake, digestibility, nitrogen and energy balance in growing dairy goats (Saanen). Twelve growing dairy goats weighing 17.5kg were randomly assigned to one of four TMRs; low energy-low crude protein (CP) TMR (control; A), high energy-low CP TMR (B), low energy-high CP TMR (C) and high energy-high CP TMR (D). The content of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and CP in the control diet were 67% and 11%. The TDN content of the high energy TMR was 73.7% and the CP content of the high CP TMR was 13%. Dry matter intake was highest in D, and significantly higher in B than in C (p