Abstract:
The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of urea molasses treated groundnut hull
(UMTGH) as a replacement for wheat bran (WB) on nutrient utilization, body weight change,
carcass characteristics, and economic feasibility of Gumuz goats fed on natural pasture hay as
basal diet from March to May 2021 in Pawe Agricultural Research Center, BenishangulGumuz
region, Ethiopia. The study was conducted using 20-yearling intact male Gumuz goats with an initial body weight of 15.36 ±0.87kg (mean+SD). The goats were assigned into four blocks based on their initial body weight in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The feeding trial was conducted for 90 days followed by seven days digestibility trial. The treatments were ad libitum feeding of natural pasture hay (NPH) supplemented with 493g
UMTGH(T1), 360g UMTGH+76g WB (T2),240gUMTGH+152gWB (T3),120g UMTGH+228g
WB (T4), and 312g WB (T5) on iso-nitrogen basis. The supplements were prepared to meet the
daily crude protein (CP) and energy requirements of growing Gumuz goats. The CP contents
of NPH, untreated groundnut hull, UMTGH, and WB were 7,6, 9, and 16% respectively. Urea
molasses treatment has improved CP by 50% and reduced the NDF, ADF, and ADL by 26.4,
31.5, and 62.9% respectively. Although the CP intake was significantly (P<0.001) increased
with an increasing level of WB. The dry matter, organic matter, CP, and fibers digestibility
were significant difference (P<0.001) among treatments. The current average daily body
weight gain showed a significant difference (P<0.001) among treatments, a higher value was
observed in T4. The feed conversation efficiency and hot carcass weight showed a significant
difference (P<0.05) among treatments, a higher value was observed in T4. The higher dressing
percentage (DP) on an empty body weight basis was recorded in T4 compared to other
(T3>T1=T5>T2) treatments. The rib eye muscle area was non-significant among treatments.
The economic feasibility test showed that T4 returned a higher net income (464.1ETB/goat)
compared to the other treatments. Based on the above result it was concluded that UMTGH in
the ratio of 25:75% with WB could be used for supplementation of protein source feed for body
weight gain for Gumuz goats by replacing high-cost concentrates of sole WB in a native haybased
basal diet, as a final point, UMTGH supplementation was recommended as a
replacement of WB at 120g UMTGH(T4) for better biological performance as well as economic
value. To confirm the current experiment on-farm trial using the result of this finding is worthy.