Abstract
Inadequate supply and quality of forage, particularly during the dry season, is a major constraint to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa (Anele et al. 2011), including South Africa. Poor management of the available feeds, seasonal variability in weather and climate change contribute to the high fluctuation of forage quality and quantity between seasons and years (Sultan et al. 2008). To improve livestock production, there is a need to improve both quantity and quality of available feed through the use of alternative forage crops. Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca has been evaluated for dry season feed supplementation, and was found to be adapted to and productive in the subtropical climate of Gauteng Province (Mpanza et al. 2013). The objective of this study was to determine the preference for, and palatability and intake of forage from 5 different Stylosanthes scabra accessions offered to Saanen goats.
Highlights
Inadequate supply and quality of forage, during the dry season, is a major constraint to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa (Anele et al 2011), including South Africa
Five accessions of S. scabra from the ILRI genebank: ILRI Nos. 9281, 11252, 11255, 11595 and 11604, were grown in Pretoria and their forage, 10 weeks old and at 100% flowering, offered to 5 Saanen goats (48.7 ± 2.78 kg) that were individually housed in 8-m2 pens
The accessions generally did not differ in terms of crude protein (CP), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and gas production at 24 and 48 hours
Summary
Inadequate supply and quality of forage, during the dry season, is a major constraint to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa (Anele et al 2011), including South Africa. Poor management of the available feeds, seasonal variability in weather and climate change contribute to the high fluctuation of forage quality and quantity between seasons and years (Sultan et al 2008). There is a need to improve both quantity and quality of available feed through the use of alternative forage crops. Seca has been evaluated for dry season feed supplementation, and was found to be adapted to and productive in the subtropical climate of Gauteng Province (Mpanza et al 2013). The objective of this study was to determine the preference for, and palatability and intake of forage from 5 different Stylosanthes scabra accessions offered to Saanen goats
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