Abstract:

This study aimed to measure the effects of substituting dietary alfalfa meal with kudzu vine （Pueraria Lobata） meal on serum biochemical parameters， apparent nutrient digestibility， and growth performance in Boer crossbred goats. Seventy-five Boer×Matou castrated male goats with similar body weight ［（18.20±1.65） kg］ were selected and randomly assigned to five groups with 15 animals as replicates in each group. A Control group was fed a base diet， and those in the other four experimental groups were fed experimental diets in which 25%， 50%，75% or 100% of alfalfa meal in the base diet were substituted by kudzu vine meal. After a feeding trial was carried out for 55 days， a 7-day digestibility trial was conducted. The results showed that the apparent digestibility of dry matter， crude protein and neutral detergent fiber （NDF） was significantly increased （P<0.05） by the substitution of alfalfa with kudzu vine meal. However， the apparent digestibilities of crude fiber， acid detergent fiber， calcium and total phosphorus did not differ among treatments （P>0.05）. With increased substitution level of kudzu meal， malondialdehyde （MDA） levels in serum of the 25%， 50%， 75% and 100% treatment groups decreased by 11.3%， 19.8%， 25.4% and 26.3%， respectively， compared with the control group. However， with increased substitution level of kudzu vine meal， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， catalase （CAT） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） activities， and total antioxidant capacity （T-AOC） in serum in Boer crossbred goats were significantly increased （P<0.05）. When 100% of alfalfa in the control diet was substituted with alfalfa powder， SOD， T-AOC， CAT and GSH-Px were increased （P<0.05） by 8.8%， 20.7%， 49.4% and 34.4%， respectively. Compared with control diet， serum IgA of 25%， 50%， 75% and 100% treatment groups was increased by 15.8%， 21.0%， 26.3% and 21.0%， respectively； serum IgG of 25%， 50%， 75% and 100% treatment groups was increased （P<0.05） by 6.8%， 9.5%， 12.2% and 10.8%， respectively； and serum IgM of 25%， 50%， 75% and 100% treatment groups was increased （P<0.05） by 9.1%， 12.1%， 15.2% and 12.1%， respectively. As judged from the average daily gain， feed intake and ratio of gain： feed， the 75% substitution treatment was optimal. The daily body weight gain of the 75% substitution treatment group was increased by 23.2%， and the ratio of gain： feed was increased by 15.49% （P<0.05） in comparison with control group. In conclusion， inclusion of kudzu vine meal in the diet of Boer crossbred goats improved the bodyweight gain and immune function of the goats. Kudzu vine meal can be used as a high quality feed for goats in place of alfalfa meal.

Key words: Boer crossbred goats, kudzu vine, productive performance, immunity, biochemical parameters