PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

The study aimed to determine the effects of feeding outdoor-grown hydroponics maize sprouts (HMS) on the growth performance and digestibility of nutrients in goats. Three treatment groups (n = 5), group T1 (control), were fed 500 g concentrate, and Napier grass; T2, 500 g concentrate, and HMS, while T3 had sole feeding of HMS using a completely randomized design. The results showed that HMS had a better feed nutritive composition with the lower concentration of indigestible fibre (P<0.05) and higher concentration of crude protein (12.28%) compared to Napier grass (7.22%) (P<0.05). Goats in T1 and T2 fed with concentrate had a higher average daily gain (ADG) of 79 g/day and 48 g/day rivalling goats fed with HMS (44 g/day) (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly better (P<0.05) in goats in T1 and T2 compared to T3. Goats in groups T1 and T2 showed significantly higher dry matter digestibility (69.27% and 63.95%, respectively) and crude protein digestibility (71.89% and 72.28%, respectively) compared to group T3. Sole feeding of HMS exerted a minor impact on growth performance in the animals. However, the HMS could potentially replace the conventionally planted sprouts in conjunction with commercial concentrate to improve the growth performance of the small ruminants.

• Adebiyi, O. A., Adeola, A. T., Osinowo, O. A., Brown, D., & Ng’ambi, J. W. (2018). Effects of feeding hydroponics maize fodder on performance and nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 16(3), 2415-2422. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1603_24152422

• Ansari, S. T., Ravi, A., Ramana, J. V., & Raju, G. G. (2019). Voluntary intake and plane of nutrition of sheep fed hydroponic fodder varieties. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 53(8), 1054-1058. https://doi.org/10.18805/ijar.B-3610

• Association of Official Analytical Chemists. (1990). Official methods of analysis (15th ed.).Association of Official Analytical Chemists.

• Bayble, T., Melaku, S., & Prasad, N. K. (2007). Effects of cutting dates on nutritive value of Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) grass planted sole and in association with Desmodium (Desmodium intortum) or Lablab (Lablab purpureus). Livestock Research for Rural Development, 19(1), 120-136.

• Eshtayeh, I. F. A. (2004). A new source of fresh green feed (hydroponic barley) for Awass sheep [Doctoral dissertation, An-Najah National University]. DSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11888/7668

• Farghaly, M. M., Abdullah, M. A., Youssef, I. M., Abdel-Rahim, I. R., & Abouelezz, K. (2019). Effect of feeding hydroponic barley sprouts to sheep on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, rumen fermentation and ruminal enzymes activity. Livestock Science, 228, 31-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.07.022

• Farlin, S. D., Dahmen, J. J., & Bell, T. D. (1971). Effect of sprouting on nutritional value of wheat in cattle diets. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 51(1), 147-151. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjas71-020

• Fauzi, M. M., & Soetanto, H. (2020). Effects of nitrogen and sulphur fertilization on the production and nutritive values of two elephant grass cultivars at two different harvesting times. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 478, No. 1, p. 012082). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/478/1/012082

• Fazaeli, H., Golmohammadi, H. A., Shoayee, A. A., Montajebi, N. & Mosharraf, Sh. (2011). Performance of feedlot calves fed hydroponics fodder barley. Journal Agricultural Science Technology, 13(3), 365-375.

• Finney, P. L. (1983). Effect of germination on cereal and legume nutrient changes and food or feed value: A comprehensive review. In C. Nozzolillo, P. J. Lea, & F. A. Loewus (Eds.), Mobilization of reserves in germination: Recent advances in phytochemistry (Vol. 17, pp. 229-305). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1167-6_12

• Gebremedhin, W. K. (2015). Nutritional benefit and economic value of feeding hydroponically grown maize and barley fodder for Konkan Kanyal goats. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 8(7), 24-30.

• Ghani, A. A. A., Shahudin, M. S., Zamri-Saad, M., Zuki, A. B., Wahid, H., Kasim, A., Salisi, M. S., & Hassim, H. A. (2017). Enhancing the growth performance of replacement female breeder goats through modification of feeding program. Veterinary World, 10(6), 630-635. https://doi.org/10.14202%2Fvetworld.2017.630-635

• Hafla, A. N., Soder, K. J., Brito, A. F., Rubano, M. D., & Dell, C. J. (2014). Effect of sprouted barley grain supplementation of an herbage-based or haylage-based diet on ruminal fermentation and methane output in continuous culture. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(12), 7856-7869. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-8518

• Halim, R. A., Shampazuraini, S., & Idris, A. B. (2013). Yield and nutritive quality of nine Napier grass varieties in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Animal Science, 16(2), 37-44.

• Helal, H. G. (2015). Sprouted barley grains on olive cake and barley straw mixture as goat diets in Sinai. Advances in Environmental Biology, 9(22), 91-102.

• International Organization for Standardization. (2008). Animal feeding stuffs - Determination of acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents. https://www.iso.org/standard/43032.html

• Islam, R., Jalal, N., & Akbar, M. A. (2016). Effect of seed rate and water level on production and chemical analysis of hydroponic fodder. European Academic Research, 4(8), 6724-6753.

• Jusoh, S., Alimon, A. R., & Kamiri, M. S. (2014). Agronomic properties, dry matter production and nutritive quality of guinea grass (Megathrysus maximus) harvested at different cutting intervals. Malaysian Journal of Animal Science, 17(2), 31-36.

• Kaouche-Adjlanea, S., Bafdelc, A. A. S. M., & Benhacined, R. (2016). Techno-economic approach to hydroponic forage crops: Use for feeding dairy cattle herd. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences, 6(3), 83-87.

• Kide, W., Desai, B., & Kumar, S. (2015). Nutritional improvement and economic value of hydroponically sprouted maize fodder. Life Sciences International Research Journal, 2(2), 76-79.

• Lage, I. N. K., Paulino, P. V. R., Pires, C. V., Villela, S. D. J., de Souza Duarte, M., de Campos Valadares Filho, S., Paulino, M. F., Maia, B. A., Silva, L. H. P., & Teixeira, C. R. V. (2012). Intake, digestibility, performance, and carcass traits of beef cattle of different gender. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 44(2), 361-367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-0030-z

• Lounglawan, P., Lounglawan, W., & Suksombat, W. (2014). Effect of cutting interval and cutting height on yield and chemical composition of King Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum americanum). APCBEE Procedia, 8, 27-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcbee.2014.01.075

• Mathis, C. P., Cochran, R. C., Heldt, J. S., Woods, B. C., Abdelgadir, I. O., Olson, K. C., Titgemeyer, E. C., & Vanzant, E. S. (2000). Effects of supplemental degradable intake protein on utilization of medium-to low-quality forages. Journal of Animal Science, 78(1), 224-232. https://doi.org/10.2527/2000.781224x

• Mazon, M. R., Carvalho, R. F., Pesce, D. M. C., Silva, S. D. L., Gallo, S. B., & Leme, P. R. (2017). Time on feedlot and sexual effects on animal performance and characteristics of lamb’s meat. Acta Scientiarum. Animal Sciences, 39(1), 103-109. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v39i1.32749

• Mukhtar, M., Ishii, Y., Tudsri, S., Idota, S., & Sonoda, T. (2003). Dry matter productivity and overwintering ability of the dwarf and normal napiergrasses as affected by the planting density and cutting frequency. Plant Production Science, 6(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1626/pps.6.65

• Naik, P. K., Dhuri, R. B., Karunakaran, M., Swain, B. K., & Singh, N. P. (2013). Hydroponics technology for green fodder production. Indian Dairyman, 65(3), 54-58.

• Naik, P. K., Dhuri, R. B., Karunakaran, M., Swain, B. K., & Singh, N. P. (2014). Effect of feeding hydroponics maize fodder on digestibility of nutrients and milk production in lactating cows. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 84(8), 880-883.

• Naik, P. K., Dhuri, R. B., Swain, B. K., & Singh, N. P. (2012). Nutrient changes with the growth of hydroponics fodder maize. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition, 29(2), 161-163.

• Naik, P. K., Swain, B. K., & Singh, N. P. (2015). Production and utilisation of hydroponics fodder. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition, 32(1), 1-9.

• Ndaru, P. H., Huda, A. N., Prasetyo, R. D., Shofiatun, U., Nuningtyas, Y. F., & Ndaru, R. K. (2020). Providing high quality forages with hydroponic fodder system. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 478, No. 1, p. 012054). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/478/1/012054

• Prasad, R., Sehgal, J. P., Patnayak, B. C., & Beniwal, R. K. (1998). Utilization of artificially grown barley fodder by sheep. The Indian Journal of Small Ruminants, 4(2), 63-68.

• Raeisi, Z., Tahmasbi, R., Dayani, O., Ayatollahi Mehrgardi, A., & Tavassolian, I. (2018). Digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, rumen and blood parameters in sheep fed diets containing hydroponic barley fodder. Journal of Livestock Science and Technologies, 6(1), 9-17. https://doi.org/10.22103/JLST.2017.10424.1211

• Rahman, M. M., Abdullah, R. B., Wan Khadijah, W. E., Nakagawa, T., & Akashi, R. (2014). Feed intake and growth performance of goats offered Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) supplemented with concentrate pellet and soya waste. Sains Malaysiana, 43(7), 967-971.

• Rambau, M. D., Fushai, F., & Baloyi, J. J. (2016). Productivity, chemical composition and ruminal degradability of irrigated Napier grass leaves harvested at three stages of maturity. South African Journal of Animal Science, 46(4), 398-408. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v46i4.8

• Shyama, K., Rajkumar, G., Rani, K. J., & Venkatachalapathy, R. T. (2016). Effect of feeding of hydroponic fodder maize as partial protein supplement on growth performance in kids. Journal of Indian Veterinary Association, Kerala, 14(3), 32-36.

• Sneath, R., & McIntosh, F. (2003). Review of hydroponic fodder production for beef cattle. https://cpb-us-east-1-juc1ugur1qwqqqo4.stackpathdns.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/e/4211/files/2014/05/Hydroponicfodder-article-11wpnm0.pdf

• Tawfeeq, J. A., Hassan, S. A., Kadori, S. H., Shaker, R. M., & Hamz, Z. R. (2018). Evaluation of feeding hydroponics barley on digestibility and rumen fermentations in Awassi lambs. The Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Science, 49(4), 639.

• Thadchanamoorthy, S., & Pramalal, V. J. C. (2012). Evaluation of hydroponically grown maize as a feed source for rabbits. http://agri.pdn.ac.lk/ext_staff/upload/publications/publication_249_dept_5_fbe225af2b33ebfaab9e85855d643937.pdf#page=17

• Valente, T. N. P., da Silva Lima, E., dos Santos, W. B. R., Cesario, A. E. S., Tavares, C. A. J., & de Freitas, M. A. M. (2016). Ruminal microorganism consideration and protein used in the metabolism of the ruminants: A review. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 10(14), 456-464. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJMR2016.7627

• Vennila, C. (2018). Productivity, nutritive value, growth rate, biomass yield and economics of different hydroponic green fodders for livestock. International Journal of Livestock Research, 8(9), 261-270. https://doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20171013104959

• Wijitphan, S., Lorwilai, P., & Arkaseang, C. (2009). Effect of cutting heights on productivity and quality of King Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. King Grass) under irrigation. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 8(8), 1244-1250. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2009.1244.1250

• Zailan, M. Z., Yaakub, H., & Jusoh, S. (2016). Yield and nutritive value of four Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) cultivars at different harvesting ages. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 7(5), 213-219. https://doi.org/10.5251/abjna.2016.7.5.213.219