Effect of Concentrate Feed and Crop Residue Based Complete Feed Block on Nutrient Utilization, Growth and Physiological Performance of Beetal Kids under Stall-fed Conditions

To study the effect of two concentrate feed (20% CP, T_C (Control) vs 25% CP, T_HP) and a crop residue based feed block (T_FB) on nutrient utilization, growth and physiological performances, 18 Beetal kids of 3.5 months were randomly divided into three groups with 6 animals in each. Kids of T_C and T_HP were fed with green fodder ad lib and wheat straw @ 5% of fodder offered, whereas, kids of T_FB were fed only crop residue based complete feed block. After 180 days, the body weight gain of T_C and T_HP were similar but significantly (P<0.05) higher than T_FB. The digestibilities of OM, CP, NDF and total carbohydrates were also higher in kids of T_C and T_HP than T_FB. The DCP intake and nitrogen retention was higher in T_C and T_HP kids. The total nitrogen outgo remained similar in all the groups. Barring few exceptions, haematological and biochemical profiles among various treatment groups were almost similar and within normal range. Both T₃ and T₄ had elevated trend in T_HP and T_C, whereas, it declined in T_FB group. It was concluded that optimum feed utilization and growth can be obtained in goat kids fed with concentrate mixture with 20% CP along with ad lib green fodder under stall-fed conditions. Further, increasing the CP content in concentrate mixture has no additional advantage and crop residue based complete feed can meet only the maintenance and partial growth requirements of the animals.