Influence of Tithonia diversifolia, Cassava and Palm Concentrate Combinations on Milk Production and Traits in Etawa Crossbred

Abstract

Tithonia diversifolia plants and cassava leaves have the potential to be used as a substitute for field grass. Palm kernel cake is a waste of the palm oil processing industry and can be used as a concentrated alternative. This study aims to determine the impact of giving Tithonia diversifolia plants, cassava leaves, and palm concentrates on the milk production and quality (fat and lactose), intake, and digestibility of Etawa Crossbred Goat. The supplemented treatments were: A; control ration (60% forage (CF) + 40% concentrate (CC)), B (30% CF + 30% Tithonia diversifolia (T) + cassava leaves (CL)) + 30% CC + 10% palm concentrate (PC) ), C (30% CF + 30% (T+CL) + 20% CC + 20% PC), and D (30% CF + 30% (T+CL) + 10% CC + 30% PC). The parameters observed were milk production, milk fat, and lactose content, intake and digestibility of fat, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extracts (NFE), and the correlations between fat intake and milk fat contents, crude fat intake, and milk fat content and between NFE intake and milk lactose contents. The results showed that the treatment had no significant effect on production, fat content, milk lactose, intake, and digestibility of fat, crude fiber, and NFE but there was a relationship between fat intake with milk fat contents, crude fat intake with milk fat contents, and NFE intake with milk lactose. Tithonia diversifolia, cassava leaves, and palm concentrate up to a level of 30% were able to maintain production, milk fat and lactose content, intake and digestibility of crude fat, crude fiber, and NFE.