Effect of utilization of corn cobs in total mixed ration on growth performance and nutrient utilization of growing goats

Abstract

The study involved 18 Osmanabadi growing goats of 4-5 months of age which were divided into three equal groups viz., T0 (Control), T1 and T2, having six goats in each group. The goats in the control group (T0) were fed total mixed ration (Concentrate: 30 parts, Dry roughages- Jowar straw (Kadbikutti): 50 parts and Green roughages- DHN6: 20 parts) to provide nutrients as ICAR (2013) [6], whereas in the T1 group, goats were fed total mixed ration as per Group T0 where in Kadbikutti of dry roughage was replaced by corn cobs at 25% level, while in T2 group, the goats were fed total mixed ration as per Group T1 + fibrolytic enzymes @ 300g/ton of feed. The trial lasted for 90 days duration. The average body weights of growing goats from group T? were significantly (P