Evaluation of Growth, Digestibility and Economic Efficiency of Malabari Kids Fed Complete Diets Containing Spent Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) Seeds

A three-month feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, digestibility, and economic efficiency of Malabari kids fed complete diets incorporating spent cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seeds. Eighteen Malabari kids, aged 3 to 4 months, were selected from the University Goat and Sheep Farm, Mannuthy, and randomly divided into three groups. Each group was assigned one of three complete rations: T1 (Control) – containing 16% CP and 60% TDN, T2 – containing 10% spent cumin seeds, and T3 – containing 20% spent cuminseeds. All diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The average daily gain (ADG) and total weight gain were significantly higher in the T3 group (46.23 g/day and 3.88 kg) compared to the control (33.13 g/day and 2.78 kg), while the T2 group showed similar growth to both T1 and T3. Total dry matter intake was comparable across groups (20.01, 21.65, and 24.75 kg for T1, T2, and T3, respectively). Feed conversion efficiency was also similar, with values of 7.23, 6.47, and 6.50 for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. A digestibility trial conducted at the end of the feeding period revealed significantly higher dry matter (DM) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility in T2 and T3 compared to the control (p<0.05). Crude protein (CP) and crude fiber (CF) digestibility were significantly lower in T1 (p<0.01). No significant differences were observed among groups for the digestibility of ether extract (EE), nitrogen free extract (NFE), organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Feed cost per kg body weight gain was Rs. 164.87, Rs. 136.09, and Rs. 133.12 for T1, T2, and T3, respectively, with no significant differences. It is concluded that the inclusion of 20% spent cumin seeds in the diet is economically viable and enhances growth performance without compromising feed efficiency.