Effect of Feeding Malt Sprouts on Nutrient Utilization and Growth Performance of Beetal Goat Kids

Malting is the controlled germination of cereal grains, typically barley or sorghum, followed by appropriate drying to yield a usable extract. Malt extract from germinated cereal seeds leaves a residue of shoots and roots known as malted sprouts.

Experimental animals (n=20) were equally divided into four groups of five animals each (average body weight 10.75±0.27 kg). C was control group fed conventional concentrate mixture, T1 group fed with concentrate containing 10% malt sprouts, T2 group fed with concentrate containing 20% malt sprouts and T3 group fed with concentrate containing 30% malt sprouts in addition to green fodder for 74 days including an adaptation period of 14 days. The body weight was recorded at fortnightly interval. Metabolic trial of 7 day duration was conducted towards the end of growth study using standard protocol.

The DM intake (g/d) in T1 and T2 groups was similar to C group, however, it was lowest(P<0.05) in T3 group. The digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM and NDF) was higher (P<0.05) in T1 and T2 groups having 10% and 20% malt sprouts in the concentrate mixture than T3 group (30% malt sprouts) while N balance was similar in all the groups. The average final body weight at the end of study and average daily gain (ADG) were highest (P<0.05) in T1 group (10% malt sprouts) and FCR was also marginally better in T1 group.