Intake and digestibility of nutrients by wad goats fed diets containing varying levels of cashew nut shell liquid inclusion

Abstract

A complete concentrate (14%CP) was formulated and cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) was included at four levels (0, 5, 10 and 15ml/kg DM). The concentrates in combination with Panicum maximum (40% concentrate and 60% grass) was fed to WAD goats at 5% of their metabolic weight. 12 WAD goats weighing 8.5 ± 0.25kg were randomly allotted into the four dietary treatments, each treatment was replicated thrice. The experiment was carried out for 21 days and samples of faeces were collected during the last 7days to evaluate digestibility. Intake and digestibility of nutrients by WAD goats in this experiment were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the dietary inclusion of CNSL up to 15ml/kg DM feed except CP digestibility which decreased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of CNSL inclusion. The inclusion of CNSL in the diets showed no adverse effect on the intake and digestibility of nutrients by WAD goats.

Keywords: CNSL, WAD goats, Intake, Digestibility.