Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitch: Biomass and Goat-Feeding Potential in Southwest Vietnam
Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitch: Biomass and Goat-Feeding Potential in Southwest Vietnam
Danh Mo
ABSTRACT
A study at Kien Giang University, Vietnam, was conducted to evaluate the biomass and potential utilization of Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitch. as a forage for goats. Using twelve plots from a 48 m2 land area, the first experiment showed that the biomass of Wedelia in fresh and dry matter (DM) rose significantly (P<0.05) when harvesting at times from 3, 5, 7 to 9 weeks following planting and regeneration. With a yield of 22.4 tons/ha/year, the harvest period of 9 weeks had the best yield. Wedelia tends to lose nutritive value (P<0.05) when harvesting time increases (crude protein, CP 10.4-18.8% DM and acid detergent fiber, ADF 20.1-33.5% DM). Significantly (P<0.05) lower in CP and higher in ADF, the regenerated Wedelia was compared to the planting period. The second experiment was a Latin square on 4 goats over 4 periods across 4 treatments. The treatments were dietary forage (50% Wedelia and 50% grass in DM)-to-concentrate (F:C) ratios of 4:0, 3:1, 2:2, and 1:3 (DM basis). The daily consumption of Wedelia by the goat varied considerably (P<0.05) between treatments (38.2-139 g DM, equivalent to 15-50% of the total DM intake), but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in daily total DM intake (2.63-2.85% of their live weight). As the concentrate level increased, there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in digestibility, nitrogen retention efficiency, and methane emissions. For reduced methane emission intensity, it is advised to maintain dietary F:C ratios between 1:3 and 2:2; however, studies on Wedelia as the forage at higher levels should continue.
Keywords | Goat, Wedelia, Forage, Concentrate, Utilization, Emission
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July 2024
Vol. 12, Iss. 7, pp. 1206-1409
