Evaluation of protein utilization by goats under tree leaves feeding practices by

farmers and its consequences on production and reproduction

A research collaboration between Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Brawijaya University and

Faculty of Agriculture Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Lana

Background

Goat is naturally considered as browser animal with tree or shrubs as their main feed.
Hence, in practical, most of farmers feed their goat with tree/shrubs leaves as a solely feed.
This practice is done mainly by farmers living near forest or coffee or cacao plantation area.
These farmers have good access to the tree or shrubs fodder resources, for example In
these area, the trees/shrubs are either naturally grow in forest or grown as live fence and as
canopy of coffee or cacao trees leaves. Thus, these trees and shrubs fodders are generally
available abundantly.

Trees/shrubs fodder contains much high protein in respect of protein requirement in

ruminant’s diet. Protein content of trees/shrubs fodder ranges from 20 to 35% DM as protein
content of ruminant diet, which ranges from 9 to 13% DM. This means that feeding
trees/shrubs fodder as solely feed to goat must over supply of protein to the goat. Feeding
high protein feed to ruminants in respect of their requirement must bring some
consequences. Over supply of protein to the body in respect of the requirement is mostly
catabolised into ammonia then converted to urea. In addition, protein consumed by ruminant
is subjected to intensive degradation by microbes in the rumen. Depend on the rate of
degradation, protein in the rumen is mostly degraded into ammonia. A part of ammonia is
utilized by rumen microbes for their growth resulting higher rumen microbial population,
which then potential for feed digestion in the rumen and as microbial protein source for
ruminant’s body. However, high ammonia concentration in the rumen is mostly absorbed by
the body, metabolized, and converted into urea. Both urea from protein catabolism and
blood ammonia conversion must increase blood urea concentration and mostly is excreted
into urine.

Catabolism of excess protein and excretion of urea in the urine must be inefficient
processes. Economically, feed protein that is generally as most often deficient and most
expensive nutrient is excreted in the urine and milk underutilized. The excretion of urea must
contribute to the environmental pollution. Biologically, ruminant must require extra energy to
metabolize over supply of protein in the body and for urea excretion via urine. In addition,
there were many researchers reported that feeding high protein especially in ruminants
decreased reproduction of male and female animals. Ferguson et al., (1993) reported that
conception rate of dairy cows decreased with the increase of blood urea concentration.
Cows with high blood urea concentration (>20 mg/dl) showed conception rate of less than 25
%. Elrod and Butler (1993) stated that high blood urea concentration increased interval
between oestrus, decreased uterus pH especially at luteal phase, and increased early
embryo mortality. Staples and Thatcher (1998) reported that low blood ammonia or urea
concentration increased pregnancy rate by increasing effectively of progesterone in
inhibiting PGF2α synthesis in early pregnancy. In addition, low blood ammonia or urea
concentration decreased sensitivity of corpus luteum for regression due to PGF2α. Based on
this background, it is interested to study and evaluate of efficiency of protein utilization by
goats under tree leaves feeding practices by farmers and its consequences production and
reproduction
Research Methodology
Year 1

Research I. Feeding practices of goat by farmers and feed intake behaviour

Methods:
1. Survey to goat farmers as respondents with focus on:
a. Farm characteristics:
- Number of family member involve in goat farming and their job involvement
- Number of being reared by the farm
b. Feed collection for goat by farmers (resources available, from where and how).
c. Feed offered to goat (type, quantity in respect of goat weight, botanical composition and
compartment, methods of feeding, frequency of feeding, feed samples (whole and
compartment))
d. Feed refusal (quantity, botanical composition and compartment, feed samples (whole and
compartment)
e. Feces and urine sample collection for N content analysis.
f. Goat productivity
Young goat (single, twin, or triple kids, age, and weight)
g. Reproduction
- Age of first kidding,
- Kidding interval,
- Service per conception,
- Conception rate

Research 2: Evaluation of efficiency of protein utilization by goats fed on different types of

tree leaves (in vivo trial)
Methods
In vivo trial
a. Feed intake (DM, OM, CP, and CF) and nitrogen balance/retention
b. Rumen ammonia concentration
c. Blood urea and NH3 concentration
d. Semen production and quality
e. Blood testosterone concentration

In vitro degradability and digestibility of trees/shrubs fodder protein commonly fed to goat by
farmers (in vitro trial)
a. Nutrient contents (DM, CP, CP, ME, and NE content)
b. Protein degradability and ammonia concentration (first stage of in vitro trial)
c. Protein digestibility (first and second stage of in vitro trial)
d. Ammonia concentration
e. VFA concentration

Year 2.
Research 1: Level of legumes in the diet and its effect on N utilization by ruminant and
reproduction

Experiment 1:
Elephant grass and legumes ratio

Treatment :
Ratio of elephant grass and legumes in DM basis (75:25; 50:50; 25:75; 0:100)
Parameter :
a.Feed intake (DM, OM, CP, and CF) and nitrogen balance/retention
b.Rumen ammonia concentration
c.Blood urea and NH3 concentration
d.Semen production and quality
e.Blood testosterone concentration

In vitro test
a. Protein degradability and ammonia concentration (first stage of in vitro trial)
b. Protein digestibility (first and second stage of in vitro trial)
c. Ammonia concentration
d. VFA concentration

Experiment 2 :
Concentrate feed energy (rice bran, corn, cassava pulp) and legumes ratio

Treatment :
Ratio of concentrate feed energy and legumes in DM basis (75:25; 50:50; 25:75; 0:100)

Parameter :
a.Feed intake (DM, OM, CP, and CF) and nitrogen balance/retention
b.Rumen ammonia concentration
c.Blood urea and NH3 concentration
d.Semen production and quality
e.Blood testosterone concentration

In vitro test
a. Protein degradability and ammonia concentration (first stage of in vitro trial)
b. Protein digestibility (first and second stage of in vitro trial)
c. Ammonia concentration
d. VFA concentration

Each research will be done both in Indonesia and Thailand using their each local goat breed
to compare the all parameters between breeds from breeding point of view

Researcher team
1. Dr.Ir. Marjuki,M.Sc. (UB, Ruminant Nutrition and Reproduction)
2. Prof.Dr.Ir. Suyadi, MS. (UB, Animal Reproduction)
3. Prof.Dr.Ir. V.M. Ani Nurgiartiningsih, M.Sc. (UB, Animal Breeding)
4. Prof.Dr.Ir. Ifar Subagiyo, M.Agr.St. (UB, Forage Science)
5. Assoc.Prof.Dr. Suntorn Wittayakun (RMUTL, Ruminant Nutrition)
6. Dr.Nitima Chalermsan (RMUTL, Ruminant Nutrition)
7. ……………………….. (RMUTL, Animal Reproduction)
8. ……………………….. (RMUTL, Animal Breeding)

Budget
Budget is from RMUTL and UB of USD. 5,000 each.