TIA/SAS Seminar Series 16/11/12, Quan Hai Nguyen

Quan Hai Nguyen Introductory MAgrSc Seminar "Productive performance and meat quality of concentrate-supplemented goats" The role of concentrates in goat rations is intended to increase energy, protein, feed efficiency and balance between starch and forage. In Vietnam, most goats are kept on smallholder farms with number ranging from 5 to 7 heads and mainly located in the mountainous areas with a harsh environment and poor quality feed resources. The main source of nutrition for goats in Vietnam is grown grass and supplementary concentrate feeding. However, the prices of concentrates are quite high and account for the major part of the total cost of production. Therefore, their effective utilisation could result in more economic benefit to goat producers. Concentrates from locally available feed resources and supplied to goats at optimal levels could generate better growth responses and economic efficiency. The main objective of this research is to assess the effect of different levels of concentrate supplementation on productive performance, digestibility, rumen fluid composition, plasma metabolite profile and meat quality indices of finishing Vietnamese local goat breeds. Optimal levels of supplementation for efficient growth, faster attainment of market weight and good quality meat production under Vietnamese conditions will be recommended to goat farmers.