Palm kernel cake from the biodiesel industry in diets for goat kids. Part 1: nutrient intake and utilization, growth performance and carcass traits

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that palm kernel cake could be included in diets for goat kids without reducing their growth rate and carcass traits. Forty non-castrated crossbred Boer × indigenous goat kids were supplemented with palm kernel cake at levels of 0, 7, 14 and 21% of the total dry matter (DM) in their diet. Palm kernel cake inclusion in the goat kid diet increased the ether extract (EE; P < 0.001) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF; P < 0.001) intakes. Non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC; P < 0.001) intake, digestibility of DM (P < 0.001), NFC (P < 0.001) and total digestible nutrients (P = 0.002) were reduced with palm kernel cake inclusion. The hot (P < 0.001) and cold (P < 0.001) carcass yields of goat kids were reduced with palm kernel cake inclusion. The BUN of goat kids at 2 and 4 h presented a quadratic increase with the inclusion of palm kernel cake. The total weight gain (P = 0.36), average daily gain (P = 0.36), feeding efficiency (P = 0.32), slaughter weight (P = 0.30), hot (P = 0.96) and cold (P = 0.92) carcass weights, offal weight (P = 0.88), morphometric measurements (P < 0.05), tissue proportions (P < 0.05) and commercial cut weights (P < 0.05) were not affected by supplementation with palm kernel cake. However, an increase (P = 0.003) was observed in the gastrointestinal content of the goat kids. Palm kernel cake inclusion in the diet of crossbred Boer kids of up 21% of the DM is recommended because no negative effects were observed on the DMI, growth performance, morphometric measurements, tissue proportions, and commercial cut weights. Despite the reduction observed in the carcass yields (CY) and in the DM, NFC and TDN digestibility and observation of low-ADG kids, the performance did not change, and we should consider using palm kernel cake as an ingredient in rations because it reduces costs.