Evaluating Growth Performance of Saanen Doe Fed Napier Pak Chong (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum glaucum) Silage with Azolla microphylla Supplementation
Evaluating Growth Performance of Saanen Doe Fed Napier Pak Chong (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum glaucum) Silage with Azolla microphylla Supplementation
Nurul Aini Kamaruddin, Nur Qistina Afiqah Muhamad Asri and Nur Alya Adila Rosli
ABSTRACT
Ruminant growth performance is significantly dependent on adequate nutrient intake, as these animals obtain essential nutrients from their diets. This study aims to determine the nutrient composition of a basal diet supplemented with Azolla microphylla and measure its effects on the growth performance of Saanen doelings. The feeding treatments consisted of Control (100% Pak Chong Napier), T1 (90% Pak Chong Napier + 10% A. microphylla), T2 (80% Pak Chong Napier + 20% A. microphylla), and T3 (70% Pak Chong Napier + 30% A. microphylla). The mixture of treatment feeds was analysed using proximate analysis. For feeding experiments, twelve 4-year-old female Saanen doelings were chosen for this study and were divided into four groups, with each group containing three doelings of similar weight. Each group was given a different diet for three weeks. Weekly data were recorded on growth performance, including body measurements, live weight, feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion rate (FCR) and body condition score BCS. For nutritional composition analysis of treatment feed, the results revealed that Treatment 3 exhibits the highest protein content (12.11%) among the treatment groups, surpassing Treatment 1, Treatment 2, and the control group, which have protein levels of 8.9%, 10.08%, and 6.53%, respectively. Treatment 1 showed the best growth results. It produced an average daily gain of 0.36 ± 0.07 kg, increased body length by 4 cm to 81.00 ± 4.58 cm, raised wither height by 4.00 cm to 72.67 ± 2.52 cm, and boosted chest height by 2.34 cm to 78.00 ± 2.65 cm. It also had the highest body condition score (BCS) at 2.33 ± 0.29 and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 3.25 ± 0.64. Therefore, it can be confidently stated that Treatment 1 is an optimized formulation that could be effectively used as livestock feed.
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August 2024
Vol. 40, Sp. Iss. 1
