Feed Utilization Efficiency of Ettawa Grade Goats Fed Rations Containing Different Levels of Forage and Concentrate

This study was aimed to study feed utilization efficiency of Ettawa Grade (PE) goats by providing three types of ration. The randomized block design with 3 treatments and 3 blocks of goat based on body live weight were used in this research. The ration composition was based on dry matter (DM) are: (A) 15% elephant grass + 20% rice straw + 25% glyricidia + 10% caliandra + 30% concentrate; (B) 30% elephant grass + 30% glyricidia + 40% concentrate and (C) 20% elephant grass + 20% glyricidia + 60% concentrate. Parameters measured were feed intake, feed digestibility, weight gain and rumen fermentation products. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance. The results showed that dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), crude protein intake (CPI) and crude fiber intake (CFI) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in treatment A than treatment B and C. This was because the treatment A showed dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), crude protein digestibility (CPD) and crude fiber digestibility (CFD) highest (P<0.05) in treatment A. Thus, the goat received rations A was most efficiently convert feed into body weight. Feed Convertion Ratio on treatment A was 7.20. FCR treatment B and C are 12.74 and 13.92. Daily weight gain was also highest (P<0.05) at goat recieve treatment A is 78.57 g/day compared to treatment B 32.74 g/day and treatment C 34.52 g/day. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the provision of ration with various forage composition (ration A) with addition of only a little concentrate (30%) will give better results than giving diet that consists of only two types of forage with more concentrate (40-60%). Keywords: Rice Straw, Daily Weight Gain, Digestibility and Nutrient Intake.