This study examined the effects of diets with two protein sources (oilseed cake meal (OSCM) and Leucaena leucocephala hay) on the performance of lactating goats that were fed a total mixed ration (TMR). Thirty Saanen milk goats were divided into two groups, which were fed one of the two TMRS, with or without Leucaena hay at 25% of the DM. The TMRs were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous, iso-energetic and isoneutral detergent fibre, while using two sources of crude protein, namely i) Leucaena hay; and ii) oilseed cake meal OSCM from soybean, sunflower, and cottonseed. No significant differences were revealed in body condition score, bodyweight change, milk yield and milk composition, such as milk fat (%), milk lactose (%), somatic cell count (x 10 3 cells/mL) and milk protein (%) during the entire lactation period. In contrast, goats fed the TMR with Leucaena hay had a lower milk urea nitrogen (mg nitrogen/dL) level than those fed the control diet (with OSCM). It was concluded that replacing a proportion of oilseed cake meal with Leucaena in Saanen milk goats fed TMR does not negatively influence milk production and composition.

This study investigated the effects of incorporating different protein sources (oil seed cakes versus Leucaena leucocephala hay) in a total mixed ration (TMR) on intake, digestibility, growth and carcass meat quality of Saanen goats. Sixteen Saanen male goats were allocated to TMR diets formulated with or without L. leucocephala hay at 25% of total dry matter (DM). The TMRs were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous, isocaloric and iso-neutral detergent fibre using two sources of crude protein from Leucaena hay or oilseed cake meal (OSCM), which is a blend of soybean, sunflower and cottonseed cake meal. Data were collected on nutrient digestibility and carcass quality parameters. The goats fed TMR with Leucaena had greater (P <0.05) dry matter intake compared with those fed the control diet. In contrast, the digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and feed conversion ratio did not differ (P >0.05) between the two dietary treatments. Between treatments, no differences were detected for slaughter bodyweight, empty bodyweight carcass weight, and dressing percentage. Nor were differences detected (P >0.05) for cooking loss percentage, back fat cover, and area of eye muscle (longissimus dorsi) and Warner-Bratzler shear force between goats fed the two TMR diets. Replacing a portion of oilseed cake meal at 15% DM with Leucaena hay at 25% DM in TMR for Saanen goats would help rural farmers to reduce the cost of feeding.