The study was conducted to assess effect of levels of urea and cassava chip (CC) on feed intake, ru
moreThe study was conducted to assess effect of levels of urea and cassava chip (CC) on feed intake, rumen ecology, blood metabolites and microbial populations. Four, Thai Native X Anglo Nubian crossbred growing male goats with an average liveweight 19.0+1 kg were randomly assigned according to a 4x4 Latin square design to receive one of four diets: T1=urea at 0 % (CC=30%), T2=urea at 1% (CC=40%), T3=urea at 2% (CC = 50%) and T4=urea at 3%(CC=60%), of DM basis, respectively. Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was offered on an ad lib basis. The results revealed that total DM intake (%BW and g/kg W0.75) and BW change were similar among treatments (p>0.05). Likewise, rumen pH, BUN, blood glucose, PCV and microbial populations were similar among treatments (p>0.05), while NH3-N increased as the urea level increased and were found highest (p<0.05) in T4 at 12.8 mg/dL. Based on this experiment, it can be concluded that a higher level of urea (3%) could be used with a high level of CC in concentrate and it was good approach in exploiting the use of local feed resources for goat production.
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