EFFECT OF FEEDING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF Cajanus cajan SEEDS (PIGEON PEA) ON PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF MALE GOAT KIDS

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the performance and meat quality attributes of male Sudan Nubian goat kids fed diets containing different Cajanus cajan seed (pigeon Pea) levels as replacement of ground nut cake (G.N.C). The study was conducted in two experiments: Experiment (1): Thirty five young male Nubian goat kids 5-6 mouths old were purchased from the animal markets of Wad Madni, Elarebab. and Almadena Arad. transported to the small ruminant pens at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Fish Sciences Aneelain University in Jabal Awlia. The kids were very weak. emaciated, preweaned and the rumen were not well developed according to the farmers believe. Accordingly the farmers wean kids three days afier birth. After the adaptation period the animals were weighed, and divided into 5 groups (A, B, C, D, and E) of the same number and weight and each group was separately penned. Feeding facilitates: Five isocaloric diets, containing graded levels of Cajanus cajan seed (pigeon pea) (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) as a replacement of groundnut cake (G.N.C.) were fed. Green fodder (Medicago saliva) was also given at rate of one kg/week/head to avoid vitamin (A) deficiency. Parameters studied were feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight gain, live body measurement, and at the end of the experimental Period three kids were randomly selected from each group and transported to the department of meat production University of Khartoum for slaughter to study carcass yield and characteristics, meat chemical composition, meat quality attributes and subjective evaluation of meat quality. The study indicated that final body measurements were not affected by the levels of Cajanus cajan seed. Total live weight gain was 3.543, 6.43, 6.376, 8.543 and 7.210 kg/ head the differences were highly significant (P < 0.01). Hot, cold and half carcass of male goat kids were significantly (P < 0.01). Affected by the level of Cajanus cajan seed. Total body fat increased very highly significantly (P < 0.001) with the increase of Cajanus cajan in the diet. The non-carcass components, were not affected by Cajarrus cajan levels except lung and trachea, four feet, and spleen were significantly affected. Leg, rack, breast plate and shank increased very highly significantly (P < 0.001) by the increase of Cajanus cajan levels. Meat quality attributes were affected by levels of Cajanus cajan. Experiment (2): The study was conducted on l5 male goat kids by selection of three kids from the 5 groups of the first experiment which were raised on 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% Cajanus cajan seed in the diet as replacement of groundnut cake to study the etfect of different levels on digestibility and faecal analysis. The dry matter intake. faecal output and drymatter digestibility coefficient were not affected by the different levels of Cajanus cajan seed in the diets.