EVALUATION OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF DIETARY GUAR (CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA) MEAL ON GROWTH, NITROGEN BALANCE AND PROTEIN UTILIZATION, AMINO ACIDS AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN GROWING GOATS
Keywords:
Guar meal, amino acid profile, growth, livestockAbstract
This study evaluated the various levels of guar meal on growth, nitrogen balance, plasma amino acids, and blood biochemistry in goats. Sixty goats (7–9 months old, average initial weight 15.28 kg) were divided into four groups. T0 received 0% guar meal (control), while T1, T2, and T3 received 5%, 10%, and 15% guar meal, respectively, for 90 days. Final body weight increased from 23.54 kg in T0 to 25.78 kg in T3. Average daily gain also rose from 68.83 g/day in T0 to 87.5 g/day in T3. Dry matter intake remained unchanged across all groups. Protein efficiency ratio was highest in T1 (1.61) and lowest in T3 (1.14). Nitrogen intake increased with guar meal level, while fecal nitrogen decreased from 5.9 g/day in T0 to 3.9 g/day in T3. Urinary nitrogen first dropped, then rose to 5.9 g/day in T3. Nitrogen retention improved from 41.6% in T0 to 61.7% in T3. Apparent protein digestibility, biological value, and net protein utilization all increased with higher guar meal. However, all plasma amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine, leucine, valine) decreased as guar meal increased, and globulin dropped at higher levels. Serum total protein and albumin dropped, while blood urea nitrogen increased at higher levels. In conclusion, guar meal at 5% improved protein efficiency, but levels above 10% reduced amino acid availability and altered blood biochemical indicators. Moderate inclusion of guar meal is recommended for growing goats.
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