Utilization of common grasses by goats in two seasons

The effect of feeding freshly-cut common grasses on growth performance of Black Bengal goats during the pre-monsoon and pre-dry season was evaluated. Four castrated goats of 5-6 months age with a mean initial body weight were 11.17 and 10.23 kg for pre-monsoon and pre-dry season respectively, were used as experimental animal. Nutrient during the premonsoon season contained higher nitrogen (15.6g/kg) and less DM (196.8g/kg) than the grass harvested in pre-dry season where nitrogen was 12.8 g/kg and DM was 454.9 g/kg. Intake of DM, OM, N and NDF were 73.12 g, 67.12 g, 964.68 mg and 50.14 g/kg W0.75 respectively in pre-monsoon were higher than those in pre-dry season at p<0.01 level of significance. Higher (p<0.01) growth(35.71 g/day) rate was found in pre-monsoon season. It may concluded that grasses grown during the pre-monsoon season was higher nitrogen value and appeared to be more palatable. Keyword: Common grass; Goats; Nutrients; Season