Performance of goats on urea treated wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse based pelleted ration

Local kids (18; 111.16±1.01 d old of 10.42±0.05 kg BW) were divided into three equal groups. The animals in T₁ group (control) were offered tree leaves of apta (Bauhinia racemosa), anjan (Hardwickia binata) and subabul (Leucaena leucocephala); T₂ on urea treated sugarcane bagasse based pelleted complete ration and T₃ on urea treated wheat straw based pelleted complete ration for 90 days. The pelleted feeds were having 8% DCP and 62% TDN. The roughage to concentrate ratio was 1:1. The DM intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T₃ group. The ADG for the respective groups was 44.37, 68.73 and 76.31 g with significant (P<0.01) variations. The feed conversion efficiency was significantly. (P<0.01) better in T₃ group. The non significant differences were observed for digestibility coefficients for different nutrients except CP, EE and hemicellulose (P<0.01). The DCP and TDN (%). were 6.61±0.25 and 52.26±1.32 in T₁, 8.17±0.31 and 59.45±2.52 in T₂ and 8.35±0.16 and 58.84±1.27 in T₃ group. The goats in all the groups were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance. The rumen liquor profile studied at fortnightly intervals revealed significant (P<0.01) variations for TVFA, NH₃-N, total nitrogen, TCA-N and NPN. The fortnightly blood biochemical parameters also revealed significant (P<0.01) difference for glucose, calcium, phosphorus and total serum protein. It was concluded that urea treated wheat straw based pelleted complete ration performed better in respect of weight gain and nutrient utilization, hence can be utilized successfully for economic goat rearing under stall fed condition.