Effect of strategic supplementation of fat sources on nutrient intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance in growing barbari goats

Feeding trial was conducted on eighteen growing male Barbari goats (6-7 months age and mean body weight 13.17±0.83 kg). They were divided into three groups (Gr C, Gr S1 and Gr S2) and fed with basal diet of concentrate pellet and gram straw. Animals of Gr C was control and fed with basal diet without any supplementation, while animals of Gr S1 was fed with basal diet and around 3% fat source mixture (flaxseed oil, sunflower oil @1.5% of DMI each and 20g NV1810) and Gr S2 was fed with basal diet and around 6% fat source mixture (flaxseed oil, sunflower oil@3.0 % of DMI eachand 20g NV 1810). After 75 of experimental feeding a metabolism trial of 6 days duration was conducted to estimate the effect of fat supplementation on intake, digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen utilization. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) on daily drymatter intake being 695g for Gr C, 624g for Gr S1and 614g for Gr S2. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and total carbohydrate was statistically similar (P>0.05) among different groups of growing goat. There was significant depression in the crude protein, NDF and ADF digestibility in Gr S2 as compared to Gr C and Gr S1. Total nitrogen excretion (g/day) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in Gr S1 (7.01) as compared to Gr C (8.88) and statistically similar to Gr S2 (7.91). Similarlynitrogen balance (g/day) was significantly better in Gr S1 (4.12) as compared to Gr C (3.03) and Gr S2 (2.83). Nitrogen balance (as % of intake and absorbed) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Gr S1 as compared to Gr C of animals. Present study concluded that supplementation of fat at approximately 3% of DMI improved the nitrogen utilization in growing goats without adverse effect on intake and digestibility of nutrient while higher level, of 6% of DMI, adversely effected the fibre digestibility.