Effect of Leucaena leucocephala Protein Supplement on  Nutrient Intake, Milk Yield and Quality, Hematology,  Metabolites and Economy Efficiency in Etawah Crossbreed
Goats

Abstract

Legumes, such as Leucaena leucocephala (LL), have high protein and Rumen degradable Protein (RUP) content, so adding legumes to the diet of dairy goats can meet the protein requirements for milk synthesis. However, the addition of LL alone is insufficient to meet the RUP requirement of dairy goats, thus requiring other protein sources. LL Protein Supplement (LLPS) is a feed ingredient containing high-quality RUP formulated with LL as the base ingredient, complemented by high-quality protein sources such as roasted soybeans, autoclaved black cumin meal, CGM, and SBM. This study investigated the effect of LLPS on dairy goat performance and productivity. This study used sixteen lactating Etawah crossbreed goats with an average milk production of 0.72 L/head/day and 49.69±7.85 kg body weight. A randomized block design consisting of four treatments and four replications was utilized. The experimental diet consisted of the farmer’s ration (R0) and R0 supplemented with 5% LLPS (R1), 10% LLPS (R2), and 15% LLPS (R3). The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, followed by Duncan’s multiple range test to conduct pairwise comparisons between the treatments. The results revealed that the LLPS significantly improves nutrient consumption, milk yield, milk component yield, milk urea, and erythrocytes counts. Additionally, LPPS supplementation demonstrated economic benefits while maintaining the overall milk quality and health status. In summary, incorporating LLPS into dairy goat diets can enhance palatability and positively impact their productivity without compromising the health status of the animals, as indicated by average hematological and blood metabolite values.