ORIGINAL PAPER
Dry matter intake in grazing dairy goats
More details
Hide details
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
KEYWORDS
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