Effect of feeding Bengal gram residual forage-based pelleted total mixed ration on growth performance, nutrient availability, carcass traits and composition in finisher Barbari kids.

The study aimed to assess the impact of feeding Bengal gram residual forage-based pelleted Total Mixed Ration (TMR) with varying concentrate (C) to roughage (R) ratios on feed intake, nutrient utilization, growth, and carcass characteristics in Barbari kids. Sixteen weaned male Barbari kids (av. age, 233 <bold>±</bold> 11 days; weight, 13.86 <bold>±</bold> 0.76 kg) were divided into two groups (T₁ and T₂), each receiving different pelleted diets (TMR) with distinct concentrate to roughage ratios (T₁ with 60:40; T₂ with 40:60). The kids were fed for 133 days, and a digestion trial was conducted at the end of the study. After completion, all kids were slaughtered. Although, kids under T₁ consumed higher (P < 0.001) amount of dry matter, and crude protein compared to T₂, which was due to a higher concentrate to roughage ratio in T₁. But, the average daily body weight gain (ADG) of finisher kids was 88.53, and 79.83 g/d/kid in T₁ and T₂, respectively; however, the difference was non-significant. Digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, and total carbohydrate was also greater in T₁ compared to T₂. Total digestible nutrients intake was higher (P < 0.001) in T₁; similarly intake of digestible energy, and metabolizable energy were significantly increased (P < 0.01) in T₁ compared to T₂. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids and NH₃-nitrogen were also enhanced (P < 0.05) in T₁ compared to T₂. We observed similar carcass weight, and dressing percentage in both groups, and carcass composition remained unaffected. The pelleted diet containing greater ratio of concentrate: roughage (60:40) had no additional benefits in terms of ADG, and carcass traits in finisher kids. Therefore, it may be concluded that the Bengal gram residual forage-based pelleted TMR diet containing C40: R60 (TDN 57.13%, DCP 7.64%, ME 9.11MJ/kg feed) is suitable for optimizing growth performance with desirable carcass traits, and meat composition in finisher Barbari kids reared under the intensive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]