Effect of feeding different proportions of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves on feed intake, digestibility, body weight gain and carcass characteristics of goats

A 90-day experimental trial was conducted to investigate the growth performance and carcass parameters of goats supplemented with dry pigeon pea (PP) and neem leaves (NL). Thirty six yearling intact male Gumuz goats with initial mean body weight of 14.1 ± 1.5 kg (means ± SD) were allotted through a randomized complete block design to 6 treatments and 6 replicates. The supplement was given at 300 g DM/(animal·d). The experimental treatments were 300 g concentrate mix (CM), 300 g PP, 75 g NL + 225 g PP, 150 g NL + 150 g PP, 225 g NLM and 75 g PP and 300 g NL supplement. Total DM intake and basal feed DM intake were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by supplementary diets. Intake of supplement and apparent DM digestibility were higher (P < 0.05) in goats supplemented with 300 g NL. Average daily gain, final body weight and feed conversion efficiency were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. Dressing percentage on the basis of slaughter weight and empty body weight was higher (P < 0.05) in goats supplemented with 300 g NL than other treatments, but not differ with goats supplemented with 300 g CM. In conclusion, supplementation of sole NL instead of concentrate mix and PP resulted in similar performance of goats, and all supplements used in this study induced favorable average daily gain and thus can be employed in feeding systems depending on their availability and relative cost.