Effect of Acacia karroo leaf meal inclusion level on carcass characteristics, physico-chemical and sensory attributes and histological parameters of pedi goats fed on a Setaria verticillata grass haybased diet

An abstract of a study by Brown and Ng'ambi determining the effects of Acacia karroo leaf meal inclusion level on carcass characteristics, physico-chemical and meat sensory attributes and histological parameters of indigenous Pedi goats fed a Setaria verticillata grass hay-based diet is presented. Tubular necrosis was absent in the kidneys of goats fed diets containing 20, 25 or 30% leaf meal while those on diets having 40 or 50% leaf meal showed acute tubular necrosis. It is concluded that Acacia karroo leaf meal inclusion levels of 20 to 30% supported moderate productivity of the goats and did not cause any adverse effects. These levels are thus recommended.