Effects of medicated and non-medicated urea molasses multi-nutrient block supplements on intake, digestibility and performance of lactating saanen goats fed on conventional diets

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the nutritional composition of urea molasses multi-nutrient block (UMMB), medicated UMMB (MUMB) and commercial mineral block (CMB) and their effects on the performance of lactating Saanen goats in term of feed intake, milk yield, body weight changes, body condition score (BCS), blood profiling, parasite infestation and nutrient digestibility. A trial was conducted at a smallholder farm in Kemahang, Tanah Merah, Kelantan for 90 days of feeding trial and seven (7) days for digestibility trial. Twenty four (24) lactating Saanen goats (with mean initial body weight: 40.1 kg; average milk yield 0.05) between treatments on body weight changes and BCS while blood profiling was significantly differed (p<0.05) between treatments. Serum concentrations of Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn were highest in T2 with the values of 33.6±0.6 ppm, 341.7 ppb, 270.03 ppb and 138.3 ppb respectively as compared to other treatments. The goats in T2 and T3 showed moderate levels of parasite infestation with FEC (epg) of 750 and 950 respectively as compared to 4917 and 1850 in T1 and T4 respectively. The digestibility of DM and CP were significantly higher (p