The effect of adding molasses to tomato bushes remains for utilization in native kids fattening of Bushehr province

Abstract

Introduction: The area under tomato cultivation in Bushehr province is 12 thousand
and in the whole country is more than 130 thousand hectares. After harvesting, more
than 120 thousand tons of tomato leaves are obtained in the province every year,
which remain on the ground and are not used. Considering the lack of animal feed in
the province and the need to identify potential food sources, this research was carried
out for determining the nutritional value of tomato bushes remains and the most
suitable level of molasses for its palatability in feeding of fattening goat kids.
Materials & Methods: At first, tomato bushes samples were obtained from tomato
growing areas in the province after harvesting and chemical analysis of the samples
was done. Then, the apparent digestibility of tomato bushes remains was determined
with 0, 5, 10 and 15% of molasses using with the In vivo method. In the following,
fattening experiment was carried out with 32 goat kids in 4 treatments, 4 replicates
and 2 goat kids in each replicate at a Completely Randomized Design. Rations had
tomato bushes remains with various level of molasses and totally had about 30% of
tomato bushes remains with molasses.
Results: Results showed that, DM and GE digestibility of tomato bushes remains
with 15% molasses (64 and 64.32% respectively) had significant difference (P<0.05)
with other treatments. According to fattening results, no significant difference
(P>0.05) was shown between feed intake and daily weight gain of all treatment goat
kids, but feed conversion ratio of rations containing bushes with 15 and 10%
molasses molasses (7.037 and 7.144% respectively) had significant difference
(P<0.05) with other treatments.
Conclusion: It is concluded that, tomato bushes remains can be used in goat kids
ration and adding 15 and 10% of molasses are the most suitable levels for its
palatability, respectively.