Growth Measurments of Male Goat Kids Nourished on Unconventional Rice Straws Ensiled by Corn Steep Liquor and Conventional Rice Straws Ensiled by Urea

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary types of rice straws ensilaged by corn steep liquor (CSL) or by urea. Fifteen weaning healthy Zaraibi male goats at 120 days of age and weighing 13.65±0.14 kg were randomly assigned to three trial (T) groups. T1 was received basal ration contained 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + 15% berseem hay (BH) +25% dry rice straws (RS). T2 was fed 60% CFM+15% BH+25% RS ensilaged by CSL. T3 was fed 60% CFM+15% BH+25% RS ensilaged by urea. Thus, T1, T2 and T3 were adjusted isocaloric and isonitrogenic and offered up to 150 days as experimental period. The daily dry matter intake (DMI) was determined; by weighed all animals at the beginning and every 15 days during experimental period. Then, growth rate, economic returns, sexual development, digestibility trial and blood metabolites of male goat kids were investigated. Results indicated that ensilage treatment of dry rice straws with CSL or urea has been commonly used for improving (P<0.05) body weight changes and average daily gain, average DMI and water consumption, efficiency of feed utilization, net economic benefit and digestibility coefficient. Also, kids located in T1 group was delayed in sexual development; while, kids in T2 and T3 were surpassed and had lower (P<0.05) days of puberty, higher body weight and greater testicular parameters during sexual development. In addition, T1, T2 and T3 diets could be caused stabilization in blood measurements and insignificant values among trial groups. Hence, results indicated that dry rice straws ensiled by CSL was reasonable roughage in promoting feed intakes, animal performance, feed efficiency and economic returns in livestock, which should be considered by local herdsmen to increase their breeding profit.