Effect of ruminally protected betaine on the productivity of Angora goats

T. Shenkoru¹, F. N. Owens², R. Puchala, and T. Sahlu¹

¹E (Kika) de la Garza Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK 73050
²Animal Science Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078

Twenty-five Angora wethers (20 " 2 kg initial BW and about 7 months of age) were used to evaluate effects of ruminally protected betaine (PB) on BW gain, rumen fermentation products and mohair quality and production. Animals were randomly allocated to five treatments and had ad libitum access to 53 % concentrate diet (15 % CP) for 90 d. Treatments were 2, 4 and 6g /d of PB, 6g /d of unprotected betaine (UPB) and no added betaine (control). In situ ruminal disappearance of protected betaine was 73%., whereas disappearance of UPB at 2 h was complete. Total tract digestibility of BP was 76%. Dry matter intake, feed efficiency and BW gain were similar among treatments. No differences in ruminal VFA, grease fleece weight or quality of mohair were observed among treatments. Molar percentages of acetate, butyrate, isobutyrate and isovalerate were not affected by treatments. However, the molar percentage of propionate showed a significant treatment H time interaction. From the present experiment it is concluded that feeding unprotected and protected betaine up to 6g /d has no effect on performance of Angora goats.