Effects of different concentrations of ground oak acorn on growth performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics of goat kids

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of ground oak acorn on growth performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics. Twenty-four goat kids averaging 16.93 +/- 1.25 kg initial bodyweight were randomly assigned to four experimental diets in a completely randomised design for 90 days. The experimental diets consisted of (1) 0% oak acorn (control), (2) 8% oak acorn, (3) 17% oak acorn and (4) 25% oak acorn on a DM basis. The goats were slaughtered after 105 days of feeding and carcass characteristics were measured. DM intake increased linearly in small amounts as the level of acorn in the diet increased (P < 0.004). The results showed that average daily gain, water intake and feed conversion ratio were unaffected by levels of ground oak acorn (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in blood parameters (P > 0.05). Carcass fat depth and abdominal fat weight decreased with increasing ground oak acorn in the diet. Other carcass characteristics were not affected by different levels of ground oak acorn. On the basis of the results of the present study, it may be concluded that ground oak acorn can be used up to 25% in the diets of young goats without any adverse effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics. At this level of acorns, the goats received low concentrations of hydrolysable tannins (11 g/kg DM) in their diet.