Abstract
The average dry matter intake (g/day) increased 10-50%on diets supplement upto 80g fish meal without urea molasses block and 31% higher intake was recorded on diet supplemented with 80g fish meal with urea molasses block compared to the basal diet groups respectively. The The maximum live weight gain (49g/day), was achieved on diet supplemented with 80g fish meal without urea molasses block compared to that of the basal diet (12g/day). Maximum live weight gain (52g/day) was recorded on diet supplemented with 120g fish meal with urea molasses block compared to the basal diet (17g/day) with urea molasses block. Higher apparent apparent digestibilities were recorded on diets supplemented with 80g and 120g fish meal levels without or with urea molasses block compared to the basal diet. It is seen that time, money and labour could be saved substantially if goats are given supplementary feeds for production. Slaughter data indicated considerable changes in dressed carcass weight, gut contents and gut tissue weight in goats following the change in the diet due to fish meal supplementation without urea molasses block compared to the basal diet group. The dressing percentage and gut tissue in per cent of live weight were highest at 80g fish meal level without urea molasses block, than that of the diet receiving 80g fish meal meal with urea molasses block. Comparative study of live weight change between on station and on farm goats indicated positive increase in live weight at on station experiment compared to that of the on farm goats. The marginal cost benefit analysis of on station experiments indicates that using fish meal as supplement in the diets of Black Bengal goats without urea molasses block are economic and feasible compared to the basal diet group or groups fed fish meal molasses block. The relationship study among the different body measurements with live weight and other slaughter parameters indicated variation although good relationship exists in some of the parameters. Virtually, supplementary feeds, like fish meal, urea and molasses are largely available in Bangladesh and the prices of these feeds are within the reach of the common people. The success of intensive or semi-intensive goat production depends largely on supplementary feeding. These feeds are essential for economic use of time, space and management facilities. As the goats are efficient converter of feeds into meat, the use of these supplemented feeds will enhance the higher growth of the animal, providing higher profit to the goat raiser's in stall feeding conditions, because of limitations to grazing. The present study has indicated that, through the use of available feed resources especially crop residues, agro- industrial by products, such as urea, molasses and fish meal, can improve the existing productivity and the results of on station experiment with fish meal and urea molasses block have demonstrated the concept of undegradable protein supplementation for balancing nitrogen, sulfur and energy to undernourished small ruminants deserves special attention. The stall feeding can provide scope for higher goat production, provided supplementation of protein and energy feeds are included in the diets by the farmers.