Effects of Substituting Commercial Concentrate with Chaya Forage Meal on Feed Efficiency and Weight Gain of Growing Goats Fed Fresh Leucaena-Based Diets

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of the use of substituted concentrate with chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) forage meal in leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) fresh forage-based diet on feed efficiency and body weight gain of growing female goats in ten weeks data collection period. Chaya forage meal was prepared from the leaves and young stems where the leaves are present. Twenty growing female etawa crossbred goats of 20.84 ± 2.48 kg initial body weight were assigned to four dietary treatments in a randomized block design of 5 blocks. The treatment diets were P0 = 100% fresh leucaena forage (Negative control); P1 = 50% fresh leucaena forage + 50% concentrate (Positive control); P2 = 50% fresh leucaena forage + 50% mixed concentrate (40% concentrate + 10% chaya forage meal); and P3 = 50% fresh leucaena forage + 50% mixed concentrate (30% concentrate + 20% chaya forage meal). The treatment diets were fed to the goats at level of 5% body weight in dry matter basis. The results showed that substitution of 50% of leucaena fresh forage as a single diet (P0) with concentrate that were either not substituted (P1) or partially substituted with chaya forage meal (P2 and P3) decreased very significantly (P < 0.01) total dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), extract ether (EE), and crude fibre (CF) intake, but increased very significantly (P < 0.01) nitrogen free extract (NFE) intake. In addition, the DM ratio of leucaena: concentrate in the consumed diet P1-P3 treatments diet (51.67:48.33%) was much better compared to those in the P0 treatment diet (100:0). Consequently, P1-P3 treatment diets showed very significantly higher average daily weight gain (ADG) and very significantly higher feed efficiency (P < 0.01). The highest body weight gain and the highest feed efficiency were observed in P2 treatment diet. It is concluded that substitution of 50% of leucaena fresh forage as a single diet, especially with mixed of 40% concentrate and 10% chaya forage meal increased the efficiency of feed utilization and growth, offering more effective in utilizing locally feed resources and thus more sustainable feeding strategy for smallholder goat production.