ORIGINAL PAPER
Dry matter intake in grazing dairy goats
 
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1
Cattle Feed Production Unit, Institute of Zootechnics, Medina Azahara 9, 14005 Cordoba, Spain
 
2
Department of Animal Production, University of Cordoba, Veterinary Faculty, Medina Azahara 9, 14005 Cordoba, Spain
 
 
Publication date: 1993-05-18
 
 
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 1993;2(1-2):51-57
 
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ABSTRACT
The contribution of three strata of pasture (grass, woody species and acorns) to the diet of goats during a grazing season was studied. Results showed that in autumn-winter acorns (61.6%) were the dominant dietary dry-matter component, followed by woody species (25.8%) and grass (12.6%). The opposite was true in spring when the greatest contribution was from grass (61.1%), followed by woody species (37%) and acorns providing a mere 1.9%. In summer, however, woody species increased their contribution to 47.4%, thus constituting an important intake component for grazing goats in the region. Acorns proved to be an important resource, as they are produced at a time when there is a shortage of grass and when woody species have limited nutritional value. Results showed that goats should not be classed solely as browsers but placed midway between strictly herbivorous animals and true browsers, given the contribution of grass to their diet, although an opportunist capacity for adaptation to changes in the quality of available feeds should also be taken into account.
 
CITATIONS (1):
1.
Fatty acid profile and vitamins A and E contents of milk in goat farms under Mediterranean wood pastures as affected by grazing conditions and seasons
Rosario Gutiérrez-Peña, Víctor M. Fernández-Cabanás, Yolanda Mena, Manuel Delgado-Pertíñez
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
 
ISSN:1230-1388
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