Effects of Cashew Apple Silage Supplementation on Feed Intake and Growth Performance of Bach Thao Goats

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing cashew apple silage in the diet of Bach Thao goats on feed intake and growth performance under practical production conditions. Twenty-four goats aged 5–7 months were arranged in a completely randomized design for 90 days, including a control diet (fresh elephant grass and compound feed) and a treatment diet supplemented with cashew apple silage. Daily feed intake was recorded to estimate metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) intake, while body weight, body length, and chest girth were measured at 15-day intervals. Results showed that goats readily accepted the silage-based diet. Intake of cashew apple silage increased from 0.50 kg/day at the beginning to 1.35 kg/day at day 90, accompanied by increases in fresh elephant grass intake (from 1.35 to 1.82 kg/day) and compound feed (from 0.10 to 0.20 kg/day). Consequently, ME intake from cashew apple silage increased from 332.52 to 892.81, and CP from 0.05% to 1.45%. From day 60 onward, goats in the treatment group showed significantly higher body weight than the control group (14.75 vs. 13.53 kg at day 60; 16.50 vs. 15.60 kg at day 90; P<0.05). Chest girth was also greater in the treatment group at day 90 (57.08 vs. 55.55 cm), while body length increased similarly in both groups. These findings demonstrate that cashew apple silage is a palatable and nutritionally effective feed resource for Bach Thao goats. Utilizing cashew apple, an abundant agricultural by-product, as livestock feed highlights its value in circular agriculture by transforming waste into useful nutrition, thereby improving sustainability and reducing feeding costs in tropical goat production systems.