Performance of Goat Kids Fed Detoxified Honge (Pongamia glabra Vent) Seed Meal Based Concentrate Mixtures

A long term study was conducted to assess the effect of solvent extracted honge seed meal (SHSM) or alkali (1% NaOH w/w) treated SHSM (AHSM) in the diet on growth performance, nutrient utilization and blood biochemical parameters of goat kids. Twenty male kids (3–4 months old) were assigned equally in completely randomized design to five isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate feed mixtures containing GNC as protein source (T1; Control) or SHSM (T2 and T3) or AHSM (T4 and T5) replacing 25% and 50% GNC, respectively. The respective CFMs were offered to meet 80% of their protein requirements while chaffed finger millet straw was offered ad libitum to all kids. The results revealed that daily dry matter intake (g/head) was significantly lower at 50% level of inclusion of HSM as compared to that of 25% inclusion level or control. However, daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were comparable among different groups. Metabolizability of various nutrients, retention of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances also remained similar among different groups. There were also non-significant differences in hemoglobin, serum protein fractions viz., total proteins, albumin and globulin, serum enzymes viz., SGPT, SGOT and AP among different groups at different time intervals. Concentration of ammonia N and TCA soluble N in rumen liquor were lower (P≤0.05) in SHSM or ASHM based diet fed groups, while total N, TCA perceptible N and total volatile fatty acids concentration remained comparable among different groups. It was concluded that SHSM or ASHM can be incorporated in the concentrate feed mixture replacing conventional protein supplements to meet up to 25% of nitrogen requirement without any adverse effect on performance of goat kids.