Voluntary intake and palatability indices of Pedi goats fed different levels of Acacia karroo leaf meal by cafeteria method

A study was conducted to determine preference intake and relative palatability indices of tanniniferous Acacia karroo fed to 5 growing male Pedi goats with an average body weight of 19.81 ± 1.83kg. Five feeding troughs were provided to each goat and each animal was exposed to all the experimental diets. A cafeteria feeding approach was used, thus, permitting goats free access to the diet of their choice. Acacia karroo (K) was offered in a mixture with Setaria verticillata (S) hay at five different levels: Diet 1: S80K20, Diet 2: S75K25, Diet 3: S70K30, Diet 4: S₆₀K₄₀ and Diet 5: S₅₀K₅₀. The daily relative palatability indexes (RPI) obtained for each diet were subjected to analysis of variance with feeds as treatments and individual animals as replicates in a completely randomized design. Significant differences (P<0.05) in RPI among the diets were observed. Preference rankings for the diets produced the following order: Diet 5> Diet 4> Diet 3> Diet 2> Diet 1. Diet 5 appeared to be the most preferred by goats with an RPI of 96.91%. Palatability indices were positively and significantly (P<0.05) predicted from dry matter intake of goats (r² = 0.71). Similarly, intake and palatability indices of the diets related positively (P<0.05) with the nutrient and tannin contents. Results of this study indicated that tannin-rich Acacia karroo leaves when fed in a mixed diet could influence preference and intake by Pedi goats. Palatability studies could be used in designing supplemental feeding programs for ruminant livestock in the tropics.