Abstract:
An investigation spread over a period of 4 ½ months was carried out to establish the optimum level of protein in concentrate mixtures of kids for growth. Twenty four cross – bred kids (Saanen x Malabari and Alpine x Malabari) of 3 – 4 months of age, divided into four identical groups formed the experimental subjects. The kids in group 1, 11, 111 and IV was maintained on concentrate mixtures containing 16, 18, 20 and 22 per cent respectively of crude protein along with jack leaves fed ad libitum as the sole roughage. Increase in body weight and body measurements, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen retention and haematological values of the kids were the criteria employed for the evaluation.
The average daily gain in body weight recorded for the kids of the four groups were almost similar and were not influenced by the level of dietary protein fed.
The body measurements did not reveal any significant differences between the groups except body length which showed increase with increase in level of dietary protein.
Highest feed efficiency was shown by kids of group IV followed by group 111, 11 and 1 the values being 6.2, 6.9, 7.0 and 7.2 respectively for the four groups.
The digestibility of nutrients especially that of crude protein and the average daily nitrogen retention were directly proportional to the level of dietary protein fed.
All the animals maintained a sound nutritional status throughout the experimental period as evidenced from the normal haematological values recorded for them.
Kids fed 22 per cent crude protein in the concentrate mixture showed maximum economic gain.
