Abstract
Fifteen intact male Jamunapari goats, average body weight $22.0{\pm}1.18kg$ were divided into three groups of 5 animals in each to investigate the effects of feeding leucaena on energy retention and distribution of retained energy. Leucaena leaves and twigs provided 0%, 25% and 50% of CP in the rations of animals in $L_1$ (control), $L_2$ and $L_3$ groups, respectively. Energy balances were determined in an open circuit respiration chamber from gaseous exchange and nitrogen carbon balances. Energy retentions calculated from gaseous exchange data were 181.6, 190.0 and 172.8 kJ/kg $W^{0.75}/d$ and from carbon-nitrogen balances were 178.2, 199.5 and 171.1 kJ/kg $W^{0.75}/d$ in $L_1$, $L_2$ and $L_3$ groups, respectively. No significant difference was observed among the groups in both the methods. The retention of nitrogen and energy in the form of protein was similar in different treatment groups. Similarly, no significant effect was observed on energy retention in the form of fat and total energy retention due to incorporation of leucaena in the diets.