<b>Nutritional value of feed used in diets for Saanen goats

Abstract

This study was performed to characterize feed used in diets for Saanen goats. The feedstuffs were: Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.), soybean meal, ground corn, soybean hulls, ground ear corn and dried cassava residue. Contents were determined for dry matter, ash, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, physically effective fiber and lignin, and organic matter, total carbohydrates and non-fiber carbohydrates were estimated. Carbohydrates were divided into fractions A + B1 (rapidly degradable), B2 (potentially degradable) and C (non-degradable); and the protein in fractions A (soluble), B1 (rapid ruminal degradation), B2 (intermediate degradation), B3 (slow degradation) and C (indigestible). To determine the gas production an automatic technique in vitro was used, modified by Ankom^®. Significant differences were observed among feed for the parameters A, B, C, E and A + D of ruminal degradation kinetics, and feed with high non-fibrous carbohydrates content presented higher fraction A (rapid degradation), and the hay showed longer lag time (fraction C). The total gas production was higher for ground corn, ground ear corn and dried cassava residue.