Influence of zinc and chromium supplementation on growth and nutrient utilization in goats

To study the effect of supplementing zinc and chromium on growth performance and nutrient utilization, twenty-four indigenous non-descript goat kids (3–5 months old, average body weight of 5.1 kg) were allocated to four groups Gr I (control) was fed ad libitum basal complete feed which constituted sola (Aeschynomene indica) - hay (60 parts) and concentrate mixture (40 parts). The kids of Gr II, IIIand IV were fed as in control with a combined supplement of Zn-methionine and Crpicolinate at the rates of 20 and 0.5 ppm, 35 and 1 ppm and 50 and 1.5 ppm, respectively. The experiment lasted for 90 days. Significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded in Gr IV than the control. The study showed significantly (P<0.05) increased total nitrogen, trichloroacetic acid precipitable nitrogen (TCA-ppt -N) and microbial protein in Gr II, III, IV in the strained rumen liquor (SRL) at 45-day than the control whereas no significant change was observed in protozoan spp. due to mineral supplementation in different groups.