Impact of forage levels and physical forms on feed sorting behavior, rumen morphometry, and selected blood parameters in fattening male goats

This study assessed the impact of physical form of diet and Rhodes grass (RG) level on feed sorting behaviour, rumen morphometric measurements, and blood parameters in goats. Forty male goats were equally assigned to four dietary treatments: mash total mixed ration (TMR) containing 15 % RG and 85 % concentrate (RG15M), 25 % RG and 75 % concentrate (RG25M), pelleted TMR (containing similar levels of RG hay as for mash diets) as RG15P, and RG25P. Goats selected particle sizes larger than 6.70 mm, with no difference (P > 0.05) between RG15M and RG25M. The consumption of particles larger than 4.75 mm and 3.35 mm size was similar in RG15M and RG25M. However, the consumption of particle size larger than 2.36 mm and 1.18 mm was higher in RG15M compared to RG25M. Rumen papillae density and surface area were greater (P