Availability of browse plants to goats fed with Napier grass: Voluntary feed intake and effects on body weight

Abstract

Plants with varying level of tannins were offered to goats 4-6 months old fed with napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and palm kernel cake (PKC)-based pellet. Voluntary feed intake (VFI) of offered plants on the 3rd week of feeding was highest for Artocarpus heterophyllus and Leucaena leucocephala (48 and 36 g/kg0.75 body weight (BW)). Sapium baccatum, Brachiaria decumbens, Micaniamicrantha and Musa sp. had VFI of 34, 33, 33 and 31 g/kg0.75 BW respectively whereas VFI for Cyprus kyllinga, Melastoma malabathricum and Dillenia suffruticosa were amongst the lowest (24, 22 and 20 g/kg0.75 BW respectively). Animals offered with L. leucocephala and A. heterophyllus had increased BW gain(8.8 and 7.9 kg respectively; p