Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Frond Feeding of Goats in the Humid Tropics

Twenty four goats were allocated to three groups (n = 8) and fed either a control diet Without Oil Palm Fronds (CON), a diet incorporated with 25% Oil Palm Fronds (OPFM) or 50% Oil Palm Fronds (OPFH) for 100 days to evaluate their growth rates, carcass characteristics and subcutaneous fatty acid profiles Animals in all three groups exhibited similar final body weights (p>0 05) The OPFH group showed a significant linear reduction (p<0 05) m dressing percentage, warm carcass weight and back fat thickness and total muscle when compared to the CON group The total n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) concentrations m the subcutaneous fat of the OPFH ammals were significantly higher (linear, p<0 05) than the CON group The diet containing 25% of oil palm fronds did not produce any adverse effects on the growth performance and carcass characteristics This demonstrates an environmental-friendly way of utihzmg agricultural waste by products for the small ruminant industry m tropical countries growing oil palm tree.