ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to assess the effect of garlic oil supplementation on intake, digestibility, performance and rumen function of goats. Thirty goats with initial average body weight of 6 ± 0.99 kg were randomly divided into five treatments with six goats each in a completely randomized design. The diets contained a control group without garlic oil (CA1) and diets supplemented with garlic oil at 20 g (GB2), 25 g (GC3), 30 g (GD4) and 35 g (GE5). Results showed that acid detergent fibre and lignin (66.02 and 52.37%) digestibility, total volatile fatty acid with acetate (88.62 mM and 69.68mol/100mol), feed conversion ratio (9.47), ammonia nitrogen (12.39mg/dl), methane (21.96mol/mol) and protozoa (8.93 x 108 cfµ/mol) of goats reared on CA1 were (P < 0.05) higher than those on test diets (GB2, GC3, GD4 and GE5). Goats fed on GC3 and GD4 diets had higher (P < 0.05) nutrients digestibility with rumen parameters, daily weight gain and intake compared with those on CA1, CB2 and GE5 diets. The ether extract intake (58.09%) and digestibility (64.03%) in goats reared on GE5 were (P < 0.05) higher than those on other diets. Ash intake and digestibility, rumen pH, iso-butyrate, valerate, iso-valerate and total fungi count were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by treatment diets. In conclusion, the supplementation of garlic oil to treatment diets improved intake, digestibility, performance and rumen function of goats, indicating garlic oil as alternative additive to improve poor quality feeds.