Optimizing performance in young goats: impact of concentrate supplementation in Cicer arietinum straw-based diets on rumen fermentation, nutrient availability, blood profile and growth

The current study was conducted to optimize the growth performance of Indian goat breed (Barbari), with a focus on enhancing productivity for intensive commercial goat farming systems. The study explored the impact of varying concentrations of concentrate feed mix on the growth, nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation, and blood health of intensively raised young Barbari goats. Thirty-two male weaned kids, approximately 5 months old and weighing 9.43 +/- 0.24 kg on average, were individually housed and divided into four equal groups. All kids received ad libitum Bengal gram straw and green fodder as basal rations, supplemented with barley grain at 0.7% of body weight in the control group (T-1), and concentrate mix at 0.7%, 1.4%, and 2.1% of body weight in groups T-2, T-3 and T-4, respectively. Significantly faster weight gain was observed in finisher kids receiving higher concentrations of concentrate feed mix (P < 0.001). DM intake (g/kg W-0.75) increased (P < 0.05) in T-4 compared to T-1. CP intake (g/kg W-0.75) was higher in T-3, and T-4 than in T-1, and T-2. Elevated levels of TCA-precipitable nitrogen, total VFA production, and a favorable shift in the acetate/propionate ratio were observed in kids under T-4 compared to T-1. Total digestible nutrients (TDN) percentage in the feed was enhanced in T-4 (P < 0.01), and digestible crude protein (DCP) percentage was greater in T-4, and T-3 compared to T-1 (P < 0.05). Finisher goats under T-4 retained higher (P < 0.05) amount of nitrogen/kg W-0.75 compared to T-1 and T-2. Furthermore, red blood cell counts (RBC) increased in T-3, and T-4 compared to T-1 (P < 0.05), while white blood cell counts (WBC) were enhanced in concentrate mixture added treatments (T-2, T-3 and T-4) compared to T-1 (P < 0.05). Haemoglobin concentration was significantly higher in T-3, and T-4 compared to T-1, and T-2 (P < 0.05). Blood glucose levels were elevated in groups receiving concentrate mix (T-2, T-3, T-4) compared to T-1; and the albumin to globulin (A/G) ratio tended to decrease due to increased globulin levels in blood plasma (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Barbari finisher goats raised with 2.1% of their body weight as concentrate mix supplementation under an intensive feeding system experienced improved growth, nutrient utilization and blood profile. Barbari goats, known for their high reproductive efficiency and adaptability to semi-arid climates, are ideal for meat production. Their farming offers great potential for small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs, especially when utilizing abundantly available pulse straw-based diets supplemented with such concentrate level.