Abstract :
Khat (Catha edulis) is a lucrative cash crop in many African countries and other areas of
the world. Leftover khat can be used as a feedstuff for ruminants, although seasonal production
limits the extent of utilization. Practical methods of feed conservation to preserve
nutritional value would be beneficial. Thus, a study was conducted to investigate effects
of feeding different forms of leftover khat on intake, digestion, and growth performance
of a tropically adapted indigenous goat genotype of eastern Ethiopia. Twenty-four (six per
treatment) individually housed Hararghe Highland yearling male goats with an initial body
weight of 18 ± 0.4 kg were used in an on-station experiment, and 32 similar yearlings with
an initial body weight of 19 ± 0.4 kg were employed under on-farm conditions. The onfarm
experiment occurred at two villages, with four farmer groups (two farmers per group
co-managing animals) per village. Four animals in each farmer group were subjected to
each of the four different treatments. Experiments were 90 days in length, with inclusion
of a subsequent 10-day period on-station to determine digestibility. Khat in fresh, dry, and
silage forms was fed at 1.5% body weight (dry matter; DM), whereas control animals did
not receive khat. Animals on-station consumed grass hay ad libitum and those on-farm
grazed/browsed surrounding areas. Grass hay DM intake on-station was greater (P < 0.05)
without than with khat (528, 358, 387, and 368 g/day; SE = 20.3), although total DM intake
was increased by feeding khat regardless of form (528, 649, 622, and 639 g/day for control,
fresh, dry, and silage, respectively; SE = 22.9). Digestibility of organic matter was increased
(P < 0.05) by feeding each form of khat (62.3%, 75.7%, 75.2%, and 72.4% for control, fresh,
dry, and silage, respectively; SE = 1.63). Nitrogen balance was increased by fresh and ensiled
khat (P < 0.05) (−0.54, 2.07, 0.80, and 0.86 g/day for control, fresh, dry, and silage, respectively).
Average daily gain (ADG) was increased by khat regardless of form on-station (13,
49, 33, and 39 g; SE = 4.6), and on-farm ADG was less for control than for fresh and dry forms
(P < 0.05) (32, 56, 47, and 42 g for control, fresh, dry, and silage, respectively SE = 2.0). The
ratio of ADG:DM intake on-station was lower for control than for fresh (P < 0.05) and silage
(P < 0.05) (26, 76, 54, and 61 g/kg for control, fresh, dry, and silage, respectively; SE = 7.6).
In conclusion, feeding leftover khat to Highland goats consuming low to moderate quality
forage-based diets can increase growth performance. Khat can be preserved for use as a
feedstuff throughout the year by drying or ensiling without marked effect on performance.
