1Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Telangana, India
2Department of Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, College of Veterinary Science, Korutla, Telangana, India
3Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Telangana, India
4Department of Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Telangana, India
*Corresponding author: RS Janampet; Email: drrazia0204@gmail.com
Online published on 4 November, 2016.
The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Guar meal, an unconventional feed on growth performance, behavioural traits, faecal consistency in kids (3 months old) with an average body weight of 9.46 ± 0.15 Kg divided into three equal groups (D1, D2 and D3) following completely randomized design. Experimental diets were formulated by replacing ground nut cake (GNC) from the control (D1) group, with guar meal at 50 (D2) and 100% (D3) level in the concentrate mixture. Dietary replacement of GNC with unconventional protein source (GM) either at 50 or 100% had no negative influence on dry matter intake and feed conversion ratio. ADG was significantly (P<0.01) higher in D2 group but comparable to that of D1 group. No significant difference was observed in behavioural aspects in kids fed on three different rations. The percentage of time spent on eating was recorded highest in all the groups. Faecal consistency score was significantly (P<0.05) higher in kids fed D3 ration compared to those fed D1 and D2. Guar meal based diets were found to be more economic than conventional type.
Chemical composition, cost economics, growth performance, Guar meal
