Twenty-seven Boer x Saanen goat kids (15 males and 12 females) averaging 25.75 ± 3.80 kg of initial BW were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of replacing ground corn grain (GCG) with soybean hulls (SH) on performance and apparent digestibility of nutrients. Diets contained star grass hay (Cynodon spp.), soybean meal, minerals, and one of the following levels of SH: 0% (GCG diet), 50% (SH50) or 100% (SH100). The experimental period lasted 42 days and indigestible NDF was used as the internal marker to estimate fecal output and apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients. There was no difference among treatments for the intakes of DM, OM, and CP as well as for the average daily gain and feed conversion. Replacing GCG with SH in the diet decreased the apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, OM, and CP and increased those of NDF and starch. The in vitro DM digestibility was greatest on GCG, intermediate on SH50, and lowest on SH100 diet while no significant differences were observed for cell was digestibility across treatments. Performance of growing kids was not affected by replacing all dietary GCG with SH. However, digestibility of DM, OM, and CP decreased while that of NDF increased by including SH on diets of growing kids.
byproduct; digestibility; kids; weight gain
