Effect of dietary utilization of a mixture of tropical tree foliage leaves on growth performance, nutrient utilization, blood biochemistry, and immune status of goats

The global goat population continues to grow, and simultaneously, fodder demand is increasing, despite the fact that feed resources are limited, and thus, new unconventional feed resources should be explored. The present study focuses on the nutrient utilization of ten top feeds viz. Acacia nilotica, Celtis australis, Ficus palmata, Ficus religiosa, Grewia optiva, Melia azadarach, Morus alba, Quercus incana, Salix alba and Zizyphus jujuba. Twelve adult, non-descript local male goats (27.02 ± 2.93 kg, 14 ± 2 months old) were randomly assigned to two equal groups. The control group was fed a conventional concentrate mixture (CON), while the treatment group received a leaf meal-based concentrate mixture (LMM). Both groups were provided ad libitum access to wheat straw as forage. The outcome of body weight changes revealed non-significant (P > 0.05) variations between groups. The dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), and balance of nutrients (viz. calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen) showed non-significant differences (P > 0.05) between groups. The digestibility of all the nutrients were similar between groups. All the blood biochemicals were within normal physiological range without any significant difference (P > 0.05) between dietary treatments. The animals provided with LMM based rations showed better humoral immune response, however, cell-mediated immune (CMI) response was similar (P > 0.05) among both groups. So, it can be concluded that leaf meal mixture can be incorporated up to 15% level in the concentrate mixture of adult goats without affecting their nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, blood-biochemical profile, and cell-mediated immune response, with better humoral immune response.