Abstract
An investigation was made to evaluate the native range of western India in terms of nutrient supply during different physiological stages in goats. One hundred female and 5 male Kutchi adult goats were grazed on a 35 ha plot of native range. They were maintained on sole grazing. Four experiments, one in a defined physiological stage was carried out. Stage I, when maximum number of females were bred; stage II, when bucks were used for breeding purpose; stage III, 3-months old (weaner) kids were allowed to graze on ranges and stage IV, when the goats were in early stage of lactation. During oestrous period, diet contained 15.2% crude protein (CP), 54.0% neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 31.5% acid detergent fibre (ADF) and 12.6% acid detergent lignin (ADL). Digestibility coefficient of dry matter (DM), CP, NDF and ADF was 0.586,0.531, 0.431 and 0.239, respectively. DM, digestible crude protein (DCP) and metabolizable energy (ME) intakes were 82.7, 6.71 g kg -1 W 0.75 and 0.99 MJ kg -1 W 0.75 . Diet of buck was constituted by 230 g kg -1 DM of grasses and forb and 770 g kg -1 DM of tree foliage. CP, NDF, ADF and ADL contents of the diet were 13.6, 57.8, 43.5 and 20.0%, respectively. DM, DCP and ME intakes were 57.9, 4.13 g kg -1 W 0.75 and 0.82 MJ kg -1 W 0.75 . Digestibility coefficient of CP, NDF and ADF were 0.496, 0.432 and 0.346, respectively. Diet of kids was constituted by Prosopis cineraria (900 g kg -1 DM) and Zizyphus nummularia (l00 g kg -1 DM) leaves. Digestibility of CP, NDF and ADF were 0.456, 0.415 and 0.201, respectively. DM, DCP and ME intakes were 85.8, 6.44 g kg -1 W 0.75 and 1.22 MJ kg -1 W 0.75 . Lactation phase of goat fell between October-December and tree foliage formed the major portion of the diet. Diet of lactating goat contained only 6.8% CP and 16.5% ADL. Digestibility of DM, CP, NDF and ADF was 0.567, 0.221, 0.307 and 0.233, respectively. DM, DCP and ME intakes were 108.2, 1.62 g kg -1 W 0.75 and 1.50 MJ kg -1 W 0.75 , respectively. Present study establishes that goats on semiarid range with sufficient number of fodder trees were able to meet the nutrient requirement of ewes during oestrous and bucks during breeding season. However, during lactation and active growth phase, only DM requirement is met. Thus, it is recommended to supplement concentrate mixture to goats grazing on range during lactation and growth phase. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 12 : 1719-1724)
Highlights
Western region of India is very important for goat production
Goats in this region are primarily dependent on native range for their forage requirement
Native range routinely grazed by the goats in a round the year management was evaluated in terms of forage supply, intake and animal performance so as to develop suitable strategies of supplementation if required to optimize the production
Summary
Western region of India is very important for goat production. Goats in this region are primarily dependent on native range for their forage requirement. It has been found that constant high grazing pressure and overgrazing are the major constraints for sustainable goat production on ranges in semiarid region. Native range routinely grazed by the goats in a round the year management was evaluated in terms of forage supply, intake and animal performance so as to develop suitable strategies of supplementation if required to optimize the production. One hundred female and 5 male Kutchi adult goats were grazed on 35 ha plot of native range.
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