Abstract

A 26 week study was carried out on forty Sirohi goat kids, which were randomly divided into five groups of eight in each group on the basis of same age and uniform conformation to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaves feeding on body weight changes, average daily weight gain and feed intake. Methi straw (Trigonella foenum-graecum), were used as a roughage, commercially available readymade feed were used as a concentrate feed and Moringa oleifera dry leaves were used as an experimental feed for feeding of sirohi goat kids. 

The group T1 offered 60% roughage and 40% commercially available
readymade concentrate and in groups T2, T3, T4 and T5, the commercially available readymade concentrate were replaced by Moringa oleifera leaves at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% levels, respectively.

During entire period of experiment, measured quantity of feed were provided to each animal every morning and the left over were weighted in next morning to assess daily consumption. The body weights were measured individually at the beginning and at fortnightly intervals. Results showed that the dry matter intakes of the kids in all the groups were significant. The overall body weight changes and average daily body weight gain in goat kids were higher in group T4 followed by group T3, group T5, group T2
and group T1.

It was concluded that feeding of Moringa oleifera leaves replacing concentrate feed
improved body weights and average daily body weight gain as well as feed intake and overall health of Sirohi goat kids.

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