Abstract
In Guadeloupe small ruminants (SR) are reared for meat production under pasture conditions. Intensive rotational grazing systems (irrigated, fertilised and high stocked) allow reasonable levels of production but generate high post-grazing residues. Experiments were designed to control them. A system in which residuals were mown (RM) was tested in comparison to the control system (Residuals Remained, RR). The same design was carried out for two years with Creole goat (G) and Martinik sheep (S). An accelerated reproductive rate (3 parturitions over 2 years) was carried out. Systems were compared at three parturition seasons per year (dry, intermediate and rainy seasons). Each group was composed of 20 goats (36.0±2.5 kg) or 20 ewes (46.8±2.4 kg). The female body traits did not vary according to pasture management and seasons. The stocking rate averaged 1,400 kg LW/ha. The mean fertility rate for does varied significantly (p<0.05) within the kidding season, from 80.4±0.5% to 93.7±2.9% while the mean litter size was 2.30±0.07 total kids born. No effect of pasture system was observed. Corresponding values for ewes were 83.2±12.8% vs. 75.6±12.5% (p<0.05) and 2.43±0.24 vs. 2.03±0.29 (p<0.01) total lambs born for SRM and SRR ewes, respectively. A seasonal effect was observed upon ewe performances. The preweaning mortality of kids and lambs averaged 16.3% and 14.4%, respectively. It was 7 and 9 percentage points more (p<0.01) for RR than for RM kids and lambs, respectively. For both species, weaning took place at an average age of 81.4±3.6 days. In Creole kids, live weight at birth and at weaning were 1.9±0.2 kg and 8.9±0.8 kg, respectively. In the Martinik sheep, the traits averaged 2.9±0.2 kg and 18.9±0.9 kg. For both traits in both species, significant (p<0.05) group×season interactions were recorded. The consequences of elimination of post-grazing residues varied according to the SR species, the environmental conditions and the animal physiological status. The forage characteristics were not limiting factors since forage availability in the RM systems (2,300 and 2,600 kg DM/ha, respectively) and chemical composition were at satisfactory levels (CP content averaged 12 and 10%). It is recommended to develop new grazing system which would allow the use of post-grazing residues instead of mowing the refusals. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 8 : 1108-1117)
Highlights
In the West Indies, small ruminants (SR) are mainly raised under the suckling system for meat production and sometimes for milk production (Devendra and Mc Leroy, 1982; Rastogi et al, 1993; Knights and Garcia, 1997)
The Martinik lambs reared under intensive grazing conditions in this study have shown very high performances compared to the literature values
The consequences of elimination of post-grazing residues in intensive grazing systems with small ruminants varied according to the SR species, the environmental conditions, the paddock physical environment and the animal physiological status
Summary
In the West Indies, small ruminants (SR) are mainly raised under the suckling system for meat production and sometimes for milk production (Devendra and Mc Leroy, 1982; Rastogi et al, 1993; Knights and Garcia, 1997). 34.7±1.1 were investigated to improve SR meat production Such an intensive system produced high animal output per unit area (up to 1,385 kg live weight (LW) weaned kids per ha each year (Alexandre et al, 1997) and 1,250 kg LW weaned lambs (Mahieu et al, 1997). This approach is to cope with reduced land availability and to increase the amount of local meat for consumers. The evaluations were based on reproductive performances and body traits of the dam and on the viability and growth rate of their progeny
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