M.M. Mia

Tree leaves as alternative feed resource for Black Bengal goats under stall-fed conditions

In a completely randomized design, 28 Black Bengal goats were assigned to seven types of tree leaves: mander (Erythrina variegata Lamk), sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.), krishnachura (Dolonix regia Boj ex-Hook), jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk), ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala Lam.), mango (Mangifera indica I.) and guava (Psidium guajava I.). The duration of the study was 140 days. There were significant differences in dry matter intake between tree leaves, but no significant differences between krishnachura, mango and guava leaves. Animals fed guava leaves lost weight at a rate of 3.9 g/d, whereas ipil-ipil-, jack fruit-, mander-, sal-, krishnachura- and mango-fed goats gained 52.8, 43.9, 33.3, 26.9, 12.1 and 6.4 g/d, respectively, with significant differences (P < 0.01). Tree leaves, such as ipil-ipil, jack fruit, mander and sal, could be used as fodder for Black Bengal goats when 140 g concentrate mixtures were allowed for them.