Author : Sjamsuddin Rasjid

Summary : A study was conducted at the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines at Los Banos from 1 April to 15 September 15, 1981 to determine the calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) requirements of growing Philippine native goats, about five months old and 8.4 to 11.6 kg in body weight. Thirty-six goats were assigned in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) to three rations with different levels of Ca and P as follows: A--0.18 percent Ca and 0.17 percent P; B--0.24 percent Ca and 0.21 percent P; and C--0.30 percent Ca and 0.25 percent P. Goats on treatment B had significantly (P<0.05) higher blood calcium, blood phosphorus, bone ash, and bone calcium than the other treatments and had significantly (P<0.05) higher average daily gain and rib-eye area than treatment A. The average daily dry matter intake, feed efficiency, bone phosphorus, and dressing percentages of the three treatments did not vary significantly. The levels of 0.24 percent Ca and 0.21 percent P in the ration seemed to be the optimum for growing goats raised in confinement.