Effect of Acacia arabica Bark Extract Supplementation on the Nutrient Utilization and Carcass Quality of Goat Kids

This study was taken up to assess the effect of supplementing Acacia arabica bark (Babul chall) dry extract on nutrient utilization, productive performance and meat quality of Beetal goat kids. Eight male Beetal goat kids (5 months old; 14.58±0.58 kg body weight) divided into two equal groups, were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) containing green fodder and concentrate in a 50: 50 ratio on a DM basis or TMR supplemented with A. arabica at 2.0% of DM intake, for 90 days. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Daily DM intake, nutrient utilization and average daily gain (ADG), urinary excretion of purine derivatives, and blood profile were improved (P>0.05) in A. arabica supplemented TMR fed group. Higher (P<0.01) total-N and trichloroacetic acid precipitable nitrogen (TCA-N) concentration was observed in strained rumen contents of three rumen fistulated Beetal goat bucks fed A. arabica supplemented TMR as compared to the control group. Supplementation of TMR with A. arabica improved (P<0.05) the concentration of total and individual volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the rumen and, energetic efficiency of rumen fermentation improved (P<0.01), while that of hexose to methane was reduced (P<0.01) in A. arabica supplemented TMR in comparison to control TMR. The higher (P<0.01) ready-to-cook (RTC) carcass percentage resulted in higher RTC carcass yield in A. arabica supplemented group. Overall, the weight of most of the primal cuts was improved numerically; however, when expressed as per cent of dressed weight, most of these were improved significantly (P<0.01) in goat kids fed TMR supplemented with A. arabica as compared to those fed a control diet. The present study concluded that the weight of most of the primal cuts can be improved significantly by supplementing the TMR with A. arabica bark at 2% of DM intake in Beetal goat kids.