Effect of replacing a commercial concentrate with cassava hay (Manihot esculenta Crantz) on the performance of growing goats

Twenty male and 20 female goats of the F1 Bachthao x Barbary, or Jamnapary, breed with an initial body weight of 13.6 +/- 0.46 kg and 108 +/- 7.3 days of age were used to compare cassava hay with a commercial grain and protein meal based concentrate in diets based on guinea grass and dried cassava root. The experimental period was 90 days. Concentrate was replaced by cassava hay at five levels: 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 g/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis. Growth rates at the five levels of inclusion were 53, 69, 62, 49 and 39 g/d and feed conversion ratios were 10.2, 7.6, 8.6, 10.2 and 13.0 kg DM/kg body weight gain. Increasing the level of cassava hay reduced DM intake, but the crude protein intake was similar for all treatments. The intake of cassava hay optimal for growth rates, feed conversion ratio and feed cost ranged from 0 to 220 g/kg of total DM intake. Increasing levels of cassava hay in the diets decreased the number of Nematoda eggs and Coccidia oocysts in the faeces, but had no effect on the number of Cestoda eggs. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.