Effect of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Seed as Natural Feed Additive on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Konkan Kanyal Goats

Abstract

The use of these natural feed additives can help to improve animal productivity. Fenugreek is such a feed additive and is derived from a plant that belongs to the leguminous family. With the growing demand for organic food and the ban on the use of some antibiotics, as well as concerns about hazardous residual effects and cost effectiveness in livestock feed, finding alternative feed additives has become a need. Fenugreek has nutritional as well as therapeutic properties. Eighteen Konkan Kanyal kids (3 months old) were divided into six treatment groups and fed fenugreek seeds (FS) viz., T0- (Control) Basal ration (Soybean straw 40% + Green maize 20% +concentrate mixture 40%), T1- Basal ration +0.75 % FS, T2- Basal ration +1.5 % FS, T3- Basal ration + 2.25 % FS, T4- Basal ration + 3% FS and T5- Basal ration + 3.75 % FS. The average dry matter intake (g/d) was higher in T5 (740.36) than T0 (656), T1 (672.80), T2 (694.64), T3 (711.96), T4 (730.14). Digestible crude protein (g/d) intake of kids was 154.07 in T0, 158.00 in T1, 163.18 in T2, 167.30 in T3, 171.63 in T4 and 174.09 in T5. Average daily gain (g) was higher in T5 (100.74) than other groups. Total gain in body length (cm) was higher in T5 (9.13) than T0 (5.16), T1 (7.56), T2 (7.86), T3 (8.06) T4 (8.76). Therefore, it is concluded that addition of 3.75 per cent fenugreek seed with basal ration had significant (P<0.05) incremental effect on the body weight and nutrient utilization.