Effects of Ischaemum rugosum-Gliricidia sepium diet mixtures on growth performance, digestibility and carcass characteristics of Katjang crossbred goat

The study was conducted on 16 (6 – 9 months old) male Katjang crossbred goats with an initial body weight of 10 – 12.5 kg. The goats were fed with four dietary treatments consisting a mixture of Ischaemum rugosum and Gliricidia sepium for 270 days to investigate its effect on growth performance, digestibility, carcass characteristics and non-carcass components. Nitrogen intake, retention and digestibility were observed for the first 2 weeks. The mixed diets were analysed for their proximate composition. A total of three animals per treatment were slaughtered at the end of the study and the carcass analysed. Average daily gain (ADG) was significantly different (p < 0.05) except for group D3 and D4. Higher daily dry matter intake (DMI) of 0.52 kg was recorded in both groups D1 and D3. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was different (p < 0.05) across the treatments. The lower FCR showed in D1 could be associated with poor in digestibility. The FCR was not affected by the increase of crude protein concentration in the diet. D4 was observed to have the best dressing and meat yield percentage and also the heaviest liver weight. It is concluded that animals fed with 70% G. sepium to the basal diet of I. rugosum had the lowest ADG, DMI and FCR but significantly (p < 0.05) higher dressing percentage, meat yield but lower fat percentage and generally improved carcass quality. Keywords: Ischaemum rugosum, Gliricidia sepium, growth performance, digestibility, carcass characteristics, Katjang crossbred goat