Effect of replacing wheat bran with urea molasses-treated groundnut hull on the performance of Gumuz Goats at Pawe Agricultural Research Center

Abstract

In this experiment, urea molasses-treated groundnut hull (UMTGH) was evaluated as a replacement for wheat bran (WB) on the basis of nutrient utilization, body weight change, carcass characteristics, and economic feasibility of Gumuz goats fed on natural pasture hay (NPH) as a basal diet in Ethiopia. The study was conducted using 20 yearling intact male Gumuz goats with an initial body weight of 15.36 ±0.87 kg (mean ±SD). The feeding trial was conducted for 90 days, followed by a 10-day digestibility trial. The treatments were ad libitum feeding of NPH supplemented with 493 g UMTGH (T1), 360 g UMTGH + 76 g WB (T2), 240 g UMTGH + 152 g WB (T3), 120 g UMTGH + 228 g WB (T4), and 312 g WB (T5) on iso-nitrogen basis. Urea molasses treatment improved crude protein (CP) by 50% and reduced fibers by 20% of the ground nut hull. Crude protein (CP) intake and nutrient digestibility were significantly increased as the UMTGH increased. Body gain, hot carcass weight, and dressing percentage were the highest in T4. The economic feasibility test showed that T4 returned a higher net income (464.1ETB/goat) than the other treatments. It was concluded that 120 g UMTGH+228g WB (T4) could be used as supplement feed in the diets of Gumuz goats to reduce the cost of concentrate feed by partially replacing WB.