Effect of Substituting Concentrate Mix with Alfalfa on Performance of Afar Goat Fed on Panicum Grass Hay as a Basal Diet

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting concentrate mix with Alfalfa hay on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Afar goats and its economic feasibility. Twenty five yearling intact male Afar goats with an initial body weight of 14± 2.25kg (mean± SD) were used for this experiment. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. The experimental animals were grouped into five blocks of five animals based on their initial body weight and the animal in each block were randomly assigned into one of five treatment diets. The experiment lasted for 115 days, including a feeding trial and a digestibility trial, following adaptation periosd of 15 days and 3 days for experimental diet and fecal sample collection, respectively. The concentrate mix was prepared by mixing wheat bran and Noug seed cake in the ratio of 2:1. All experimental animals were fed panicum grass hay ad libitum as a basal diet, supplemented either with100% concentrate mix (T1), 25 % Alfalfa hay + 75% concentrate mix (T2), 50 % Alfalfa hay + 50% concentrate mix (T3), 75 % Alfalfa hay + 25% concentrate mix (T4) or 100 % Alfalfa hay (T5). The supplement was offered at the rate of 300 g/head/day on DM basis, twice a day at 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM in two equal portions. Basal diet and total dry matter intake were not affected (P>0.05) by experimental diets. However, supplement intake was higher (P < 0.05) in goats supplemented with 75% concentrate mix with 25% Alfalfa (T2). The average daily gain (83.3 g/day) achieved in treatment groups T1 and T2 was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to the other treatment groups. Except for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF), the apparent dry matter and nutrient digestibility were not affected (P>0.05) by the substitution of the concentrate mix with alfalfa hay. The substitution of the concentrate mix with alfalfa affected (p<0.05) only the hot carcass weight and the dressing percentage based on slaughter body weight. The highest economic return of 1054 ETB per goat was obtained from the goats supplemented with a diet comprising 25% alfalfa mixed with 75% concentrate mixture (T2) In conclusion, the supplementations of Afar goats either with sole concentrate mix or 25% alfalfa + 75% concentrate mix resulted in greater intake, apparent digestibility, weight gain, hot carcass weight and net benefit compared to other treatments