Preferences of Angora goats for eight selections of grasses used for reclamation of Great Basin rangelands

Abstract

Mature Angora goats were pastured in plots supporting eight selections of grasses used for rangeland reclamation in the northern Great Basin. The objectives were to establish the relative preferences of goats for these forages at two stages of phenology (late-boot and dormant) and relate selective preferences to forage production and quality attributes. Numbers of each selection visited, total bites harvested, and percent plant weight utilized characterized diets of goats. Forage attributes included herbage production, CP, and IVOMD. Crested wheatgrass selections (cultivars ‘Nordan’ and ‘Hycrest II’) were consistently ranked as preferred forages at both stages of phenology, with the two receiving 80 + % of the grazing activity. Cultivars ‘Magnar’ and ‘Trailhead’ basin wildrye, ‘Goldar’ bluebunch wheatgrass, and ‘Bozoisky’ Russian wildrye were ranked as indifferently foraged upon, and a numbered selection (No. 9021076) of thick-spiked wheatgrass and the closely related cultivar ‘Secar’ Snake River wheatgrass ranked as avoided. Variation in herbage production among selections was significantly and positively correlated with visits to selections and total bites but not well enough to be an accurate predictor of selectivity. Indices of forage quality (CP and IVOMD) were not significantly correlated with selectivity. Adequate livestock performance can probably be attained on the preferred and indifferently ranked forages through mid-summer without supplementation. The two thick-spiked wheat-grasses, No. 9021076 and ‘Secar’ Snake River wheatgrass, are not recommended as forages for Angora goats.