Utilization of Indigofera zollingeriana and Calliandra callothyrsus mixtures as green concentrates to Boerka goats fed maize stover silage as basal diets.

This study aimed to investigate the responses of goats fed a basal diet of maize stover silage supplemented with mixtures of I. zollingeriana and C. callothyrsus at different proportions. Twenty-four male Boer x Kacang crosses with an initial body weight of 34.16 ±3.11 kg were used. The animals were divided into three groups and were allocated randomly to one of the three dietary treatments, i.e., maize stover silages supplemented with a mixture of Indigofera zollingeriana and Calliandra callothyrsus foliages at the composition of 60/40 (GC1), 70/30 (GC2), and 20/80 (GC3) (dry matter basis). Both the silage and foliages were offered ad libitum. Data on DMI, ADG, blood metabolites and rumen fermentation characteristics were analyzed in a completely randomized design. The chemical compositions of maize stover (NDF, ADF, CP) were numerically different between leaves and stalk and between the upper and lower part of the fractions. ADG and total DMI were affected (P<0.05) by the dietary treatment being highest in the GC3 group due to the increased intake of the maize stover silage. Blood glucose level was not affected by treatments (P>0.05), although ruminal propionate levels were greater (P<0.05) in GC3 compared to that in GC1. Blood urea nitrogen level was higher in the GC3 group (P<0.05) which is parallel with the high ruminal NH3 concentration. It is concluded that maize stover silage supplemented with mixtures of I.zollingeriana and C.callothyrsus is a potential feed for goat production, and increasing the proportion of I.zollingeriana from 60 to 80% in the foliage mixtures resulted in better responses of the goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]