*Department of Livestock Production and Management.
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Anjora, Durg, 491 001 (M.P.), India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Nutritive value of sola (Aeschynomene indica) grass, a aeciduous herbs, available abundantly in Clihatisgarh plains, was evaluated in six graded Jammunapari goats (18–24 m). Grass contained 9.04% DCP; 53.41% TDN, 1.5% Ca and 0.16% P. Daily DMI (3.88 kg DM/100 kgb.wt.) showed its palatability. The rumen fermentation pattern was normal, however, a significant (P<0.05) increase in pH (6.81) and ammonia-N (11.08 mg/100 ml SRL) was observed. The rumen available carbohydrates, ATP and microbial cell yields were higher in sola grass fed goats. No significant difference was obtained In goats fed with and wiihout sola grass in respect to plasma albumin, urea, urea-N, creatinine, calcium and phosphorus. However, the total plasma protein (6.81 g/100 ml) and globulln were significantly (P<0.05) higher post-feeding. The higher alkaline phosphatase (23.08 KA unit) level in plasma was a good indicator for the rate of bone tissue formation in normal healthy animals. It can be concluded that goats can be reared on sola grass without any deleterious effects on their health.
