The effect of replacing levels of compounded feed by cowpea bean (Vigna marina) stems and leaves in the diet on the growth of bach thao goat

The study aimed to identify the impact of Cowpea bean replacement on goat growth as a basis for developing a sustainable meat-goat farming model under climate change conditions.

The experiment was conducted over a period of 60 days (including a 10-day adaptation period), on 18 Bach Thao male goats, approximately 4 to 5 months old, arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 6 replications. Treatment1: 30% compound feed + 70% para grass, Treatment 2: 15% compound feed + 15% Cowpea Bean stems and leaves + 70% para grass and Treatment 3: 0% compound feed + 30% Cowpea Bean stems and leaves + 70% para grass.

Results showed that live weight gain (g/head/day) had a statistical difference between the experiment treatments (P<0.01), with the highest gain in 30% compound feed of diet at 104 g/head/day; following 15% compound feed of diet at 52g/head/day and finally 0% compound feed in the diet at 57 g/head/day.