Effect of Feeding Raw or Water Soaked Rapeseed-Mustard Cake on Nutrient Utilization and Growth Performance of Kids

In order to assess the effect of feeding raw or water soaked rapeseed-mustard cake (RMC) based supplement on the performance of kids, eighteen male kids of 6 months old (BW 11.10±0.77 kg), were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments of 6 each, viz. GNC, RMC-dry and RMC-sani containing groundnut cake (GNC) as major protein source, 100% replacement of GNC with RMC and overnight water soaked (1:3 w/v ratio) RMC concentrate mixture fed as mixed ration (sani) with part of daily allowance of wheat straw, respectively for an experimental period of 180 days. The glucosinolates (GLS) content of RMC concentrate mixture was reduced by 31.96% after overnight water soaking. Feeding of RMC based diet in sani form reduced (P0.01) the wheat straw and total DM intake as compared to other treatments. The digestibility coefficient of various nutrients did not differ significantly except, digestibility of OM and CP which were higher (P0.01) in RMC-sani group. Intake and retention of N (g/d) was lower (P0.05) in RMC fed groups as compared to GNC. TDN intake (g/kg W0.75) was lower (P0.01) for both RMC fed groups as compared to GNC; however, DCP intake (g/kg W0.75) was higher (P0.05) in RMC-sani. The Glucosinolates (GLS) intake (ìmol/kg W0.75) by kids was lower (P0.01) in RMC-sani as compared to RMC-dry. Total weight gain (kg) and average daily gain (g/d) by kids were higher (P0.01) in GNC followed by RMC-dry and RMC-sani, respectively. Mean levels of Hb, total serum protein, albumin and glucose were lower (P0.01) and that of total cholesterol and serum thiocyanate were higher (P0.01) in RMC fed groups. Serum T3 hormone did not differ (P0.05) among the treatments while that of T4 hormone was lower (P0.05) in RMC-dry as compared to GNC. It may be concluded that despite reduction in GLS content of RMC by overnight water soaking, its feeding as mixed ration (sani) did not improve the performance of kids.