PERFORMANCE OF LACTATING DAIRY GOATS FED ON SWEET SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) SILAGE SUPPLEMENTED WITH FORAGE CHICORY (Cichorium intybus (L.)

Abstract

This study investigated the performance of lactating dairy goats fed on sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) silage supplemented with forage chicory (Cichorium intybus (L.). The specific objectives were to determine the nutritional value based on proximate analysis and in vitro digestibility, the effect of supplementing sweet sorghum silage diet with forage chicory on the performance of dairy goats, and to assess income over feed cost of dairy goats fed on sweet sorghum silage supplemented with forage chicory. Results from proximate analysis showed that T4 (30%) recorded the highest amount of ash (121.4 g/kg DM), CP (138.7 g/kg DM), CF (323.8 g/kg DM), EE (30.6 g/kg DM), ADL (51.8 g/kg DM), and CT (0.9 g/kg DM) while T1 recorded the least. In vitro gas production was considerably higher (p<0.05) in T4 indicating highest digestibility than T1. To determine the performance, twelve (12) Toggenburg dairy goats with the same body weight (38.7 ± 9.7 kg), same parity, and mid-stage lactation aged between 18-24 months were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments and replicated three times in a completely randomized design. The dairy goats were fed on sweet sorghum silage ad libitum and supplemented with forage chicory at 0, 10, 20, and 30%. The feeding trial lasted for ten weeks, two weeks for the adaptation period, and eight weeks for the measurement of dry matter intake, average daily gain, milk yield, and milk composition. Data were analysed by the general linear model of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the statistical analysis system SAS version 9.4. The significant differences in means were separated using Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference test at (P˂0.05). Results showed that dry matter intake, average daily gain, and milk yield were significantly different at (p<0.05) with T4 (30%) performing better than T1 (0%). While in milk composition, there was no significant difference in T1, T2 and T3, T4 of fats and protein at (p>0.05). However, there was a significant difference in T3 from T1 and T2. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in lactose and total solids of T2, T3 and T4. To determine income over feed cost, data from feed cost associated with milk production, and income from milk sales was included in the data from the feeding experiment conducted for eight weeks. Data were analysed by the general linear model of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the statistical analysis system SAS version 9.4. The significant differences in means were separated using Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference test at (P˂0.05). Results showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in IOFC of T1 and T2, and T3 and T4 but there was significant difference (p˂0.05) in T3 from T1 and T2. This study concluded that a 30% supplementation level of forage chicory had the highest nutritional value and digestibility that led to the improvement of the performance of dairy goats.