Effects of Zinc Soap Supplementation on Intake, Rumen Fermentability, Feed Efficiency, Feed Conversion Ratio and Milk Production in Sapera Goats

Abstract

The study was aimed to examine the effect of Zinc soap supplementation in Sapera dairy goat on dry matter consumption, rumen fermentability, feed efficiency, conversion ratio and milk production. The study was conducted using in vivo and in vitro methods for three months, April - June 2024. For in vivo experiment 14 Sapera goats with average body weight of 48.86 ± 12.183 kg, divided into control (n=7) and treatment (n=7) group with 3% Zinc soap supplementation. The determination of 3% zinc soap supplementation is based on the amount of dry matter consumption of livestock and previous research conducted 5% Zinc soap supplementation which resulted in a drastic decrease in dry matter consumption. In vivo methods observing dry matter consumption, milk production, feed efficiency and conversion ratio. In vitro experiments were conducted to measure feed fermentability, including total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and NH3 in the rumen fluid. The results showed that Zn soap supplementation had a significant effect (p<0.05) on dry matter consumption, VFA and NH3, but had no significant effect on milk production and feed efficiency.