RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results showed that (Table 1) feed intakes (%BW and g/kgBW.75) were similar (p>0.05) for all
diets and the values were tended to be linearly increased as levels of CH increased in the diets,
whilst apparent digestibilities of CP tended to be slightly decreased (L, P=.07) for goats fed
cassava-based diets 75 to 100% CC as compared with cassava-based diets of 50% CC. The slightly
lower CP digestibility of inclusion of cassava replacing corn 100% CC may have contributed to
lower intake of concentrate that contained slightly lower true protein (soy bean meal, SBM) in diet.
Saxena et al. (1971) indicated that supplementation of true protein was more effective than that of
NPN. Similarly, Huntington and Archibeque (1999) reported that protein digestion in animals
supplemented with true protein was greater than those supplemented with urea or NPN.
Ruminal pH were in normal ranges and were not different (p>0.05). Ruminal NH3-N and BUN were significant
(p0.05) among
dietary treatments, but all were within the normal range 22-38 mg/dl (Jain, 1993). Based on this study, these data
indicate that the inclusion of casava-based diets were unaffected in blood glucose and PCV. They also showed
positive in energy status.
Based on this experiment, it could be concluded that the optimal inclusion of casava-based diets in goat diet is
suggested to be between 25-75% of CC when fed with fresh napier grass and it was good approach in exploiting
local feed resources such as CC.