Growth Performance of Khari and Crossbred Boer Goats with Respect to Different Levels of Crude Protein-based Feeding in the Mid-hills of Nepal
Keywords:
Crossbreed Boer, Crude protein, Growth performance, KhariAbstract
Purpose: Goats are one of the important livestock species in Nepal and among available goat, Khari breed is
popular for meat purpose. They have long history of disease resistance and have contributed meaningfully to
the livelihood support of Nepalese farmers. In spite of these facts, they are relatively small in body size whereas
farmers are lately inclined to crossbred of Khari with heavy body weight imported breed such as Boer. Under
this context research was done to analyze the effect of Crude Protein (CP) based nutritional plan of feeding on
growth performance, especially body weight gain of crossbred Boer and Khari goats under various Crude Protein
(CP) feeding regimes.
Methods: Four types of CP based diets were formulated and fed by keeping 50% Boer and Khari crossbred
goats for 120 days at 6 months of age and were fed ad libitum fodder trees and available seasonal fodders in a
randomized Complete Block Design, by replicating each treatment for three times.
Results: Results clearly revealed that Khari breed and Boer 50% crossbred had different response to varied
level of CP content in their diet for growth performance whereas feed intake and body weight gain which was
relatively better for Khari with lower level of CP (12%). On the other hand, Boer 50% crossbred responded well
to higher (18%) CP, especially during later stage of growth.
Conclusion: Thus, these differences might be crucial to be considered while formulating additional diet through
formulated feed whereas in-depth study on availability of major nutrients of common fodder trees and seasonality
of variation might be further useful to consider for scientific study. Since preparing strategic feed plan is very
important in rearing goats, findings of this research would also have further imperative value in determining the
feed preparation plan by considering in body physiology and nutritional requirements.
