Productive performance, rumen fermentation and carcass yield of goats supplemented with cascalote fruit (Caesalpinia coriaria J. Wild.)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the supplementation with cascalote fruit (Caesalpinia. coriaria Jacq. Willd.) on the productive performance, ruminal fermentation parameters, yield and carcass characteristics in goats. Twenty male goats were assigned under a complete randomized design to 4 treatments: T0 (basal diet), T1 (basal diet + 1.5% tannins of cascalote fruit), T2 (basal diet + 3% tannins of cascalote fruit), T3 (basal diet + 4.5% tannins of cascalote fruit). An analysis of variance was made to the data and the differences between means were analyzed by the Tukey test. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the productive performance (dry matter intake), daily weight gain, and feed conversion. Ruminal pH and protozoa were also not affected by dietary treaments. The carcass yield (p > 0.05) average 46.3%, in the carcass color, only luminosity at 45–60 min, showed differences (p < 0.05). No differences (p > 0.05) observed between treatments in carcass lipid oxidation. Use of dietary condensed tannins of cascalote fruit, with the levels used, did not influence the productive parameters, ruminal fermentation and the carcass characteristics; and these make them an alternative feeding of goats.