Dietary leucaena leaves improve growth performance and carcass quality of Vietnamese goats

The experiment was conducted at a research farm for sixteen male goats, with an average body weight of 12.32 ± 0.14 kg. They were randomly allocated into 4 groups corresponding to 4 diets and fed individually. The diets were formulated to consist of 90% of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and 10% of concentrated feed as basal (in DM). Leucaena leaves were substituted at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% of Guinea grass in four respective diets. A 2-week adaptation period was provided for the goats to the diets and feeding system before data collection. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and carcass traits of goats differed significantly among the four diets (P < 0.05). The inclusion of leucaena leaves in the diets increased feed intake. As the levels of leucaena leaves in diets increased up to 30%, there were corresponding improvements in weight gain. Daily weight gain increased from 45 to 61 g/day and feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased from 8.43 to 6.62 kg feed/kg gain. Higher leucaena inclusion improved carcass traits but did not affect loin meat quality. Economic analysis also indicated that including up to 30% leucaena leaves in the goats’ diet provides a profitable outcome for farmers. The economic impact increased with the rising levels of leucaena leaves in the goats' diet. It is recommended that leucaena leaves be utilized for goat raising in smallholder farming systems in Vietnam.