Nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, ingestive and eliminative behaviour of goat fed ration supplemented with commercial feed additives

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of new patent of some commercial feed additives on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation parameters and behaviour of male goat. Fifteen healthy uncastrated Baladi bucks were randomly fed one of five experimental ration; control ration without feed additives, and four experimental ration in which basal ration was supplemented with 5g/h/d from prebiotic, probiotic, fordex or their combination for ten weeks. Five digestibility trials were carried out and ruminal samples were taken to measure rumen fermentation parameters. During the experimental period, behavioural measured as duration and frequency of ingestive behaviour (eating, drinking and rumination), furthermore the frequency of eliminative behaviour (urination and defecation) were observed and recorded. Ration supplemented by fordex had significant (P < 0.05) higher digestion coefficients for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, total digestible nutrients and digestible crude protein as compared to other dietary supplements or the control. Rumen fermentation parameters (pH, total volatile fatty acids and ammonia-nitrogen concentration) at 0, 3 or 6 hours weren't significantly (P > 0.05) different for ration supplemented by all dietary supplements as compared to the control. Significant differences were observed among ration supplemented with different dietary supplement in ingestive and eliminative behaviour.