Pelletized rice bean (Vigna umbellata) based ration as alternative feeds for improving goat production

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop a pelletized rice bean-based ration for goats and determine their effect on their growth performance. Sixty (60) days feeding trial utilizing twelve (12) Philippine native goats was conducted. There were two treatments, with six (6) animals per treatment. Goats in Treatment 0 were given 1.5 kg. of fresh cogon plus 250 grams of commercial pullet developer pellets and goats in Treatment 1 were given 1.5 kg. of fresh cogon plus 250 grams of rice bean-enhanced pellets. The rice bean (tahori) seeds were sun-dried for 3 to 4 days to obtain 80 to 85% DM, then milled. Using the Pearson square method of feed formulation, ingredients were mixed, then pelletized using a manual pelletizing machine, sun-dried for 2 to 3 hours, then oven-dried at 100 degrees Celsius `for 15 to 20 minutes, and air-dried. The daily feed consumed and refused were gathered and weekly growth and gain in weight performance traits were evaluated. The data revealed a comparable result between the two treatments, suggesting that pelletized rice bean can be used as a substitute for the costly commercial pullet developer pullet. A similar study should be conducted on the effects on the digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein in native goats.