Effect of stems and leaves of Amomum villosum on growth performance and blood biochemical indexes of Leizhou black goats

To study the effects of different proportions of stems and leaves of Amomum villosum in the diet of Guangdong Leizhou black goats on growth performance and blood biochemical indexes, 20 goats were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups (CK, Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ), with 5 black goats per group. The control group (CK) was fed with a standard premixed diet. The test Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ groups were fed with 5 %, 10 %, and 20 % of King grass, respectively, which was replaced by an equal quantity of fresh A. villosum along with a constant basal diet. The trial period was 60 days. It was found that there was a significantly higher average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) in the test Ⅰ and Ⅱ and CK groups than in the test Ⅲ group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the CK and test Ⅲ group (P > 0.05). Feed to gain of the test Ⅱ group was significantly lower than that of the control and other test groups (P < 0.05). The glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the test Ⅲ group was significantly higher than that of the CK group (P < 0.05); other blood biochemical indexes were not significantly different in the other test groups (P > 0.05). In summary, 10% was the optimal proportion of stems and leaves of A. villosum, as a Chinese herbal medicine and source of roughage, in the daily diet of Leizhou black goats. The results will provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of the stems and leaves of A. villosum as forage.