**Dairy Cattle Nutrition Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001.
Department of Animal Nutrition, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna-80014, India
*Present address: Animal Nutrition, department, Ranchi Veterinary College, Ranchi-834007.
Online published on 21 January, 2012.
Growth performance of 20 indigenous male goats of Bihar (3 months age) fed on 4 levels of dietary protein was studied with a view to set their optimum protein needs. The animals were divi ded into 4 equal groups 1 to 4 receiving 17, 21, 25 and 29% CP respectively through concentrate mixture. Green para grass served as roughage source for all the groups. In a 13 week experimental feeding period, the animals registered significantly (P<0.05) higher growth rate with increasing dietary CP levels and the maximum growth was observed in group 3 having dietary CP level of 25%. DM intake was not affected (P>0.05) due to variation in dietary CP levels. Similarly, CP and CF digestibilities were not influenced due to treatments, but DM, NFE and EE digestibilities were lowest in group 1. The studies suggested that daily DCP requirement of 0.266 g/g gain was optimum for the growth of male indigenous goats.
