Ndlovu et al., 1995. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 6 (3)

Ten mature Small East African does weighing 26 "3.2 kg were allocated to two latin squares to investigate the potential of weather-damaged groundnut hay as a supplement in a diet for goats. The basal diet offered at 900 g/d/goat consisted of mature veld hay ground with dried poultry litter and the daily supplements were 0, 135, 270, 405 and 900 g of groundnut hay. Inclusion of groundnut hay resulted in a decrease in intake of the basal diet at the rate of 37 g for every 100 g of groundnut hay eaten but total dry matter intake was increased. The levels of ammonia-nitrogen and volatile fatty acids in the rumens of the goats were lower than those needed for high ruminant productivity (2-8 mg NH3 - N and 31 - 73 mmole/l). Rumen degradability of the basal diet was not affected by the amount of groundnut hay offered or eaten but in vivo dry matter digestibilities were 37, 42, 45, 50 and 55% (sed 1.9) for diets in which 0, 135, 270, 405 and 900 g of groundnut hay were offered. It was concluded that weather damaged groundnut hay does not act as a supplement but rather as a substitute for mature veld hay diets given to mature goats, despite its palatability and content of readily degradable cell wall.