Supplementation Of Goats Research Articles

Dry season supplementation of goats tethered on range supplemented with cowpea or groundnut residues with or without fresh leucaena leaves

The feed value of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata) and groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea) crop residues were evaluated on growing male landim goats tethered on native pasture during the 1992 and 1993 dry seasons in semi-arid Southern Mozambique. Treatments were native pasture alone as a control, native pasture+cowpea residue ad libitum and native pasture+groundnut residue ad libitum. During the second year, treatments with (0.5% liveweight (LW) on dry matter (DM) basis) or without fresh leucaena ( Leucaena leucocephala) leaves were superimposed on the three treatments. During the 1993 dry season, both the cowpea and the groundnut groups gained more weight ( p=0.0002) than the control group. The situation changed in 1993, a year with dry season rains. The unsupplemented group lost weight only in November and only during this period did some positive effect of supplementation occur. Over the season, there was no effect ( p=0.48) of either residue or leucaena supplementation. The ammonia–nitrogen concentrations in the rumen fluid of the control group, measured in the 1993 dry season, were depressed by the inclusion of groundnut hay and increased by cowpea supplementation. Leucaena also depressed the ruminal NH 3 in the crop residue diets but increased NH 3 in the control group. The conclusion was that residue supplementation during the dry season was beneficial during a dry year.

Evaluation of common tree leaves or pods as supplements for goats on range area of Kenya

A study was carried out at Kimose in Baringo district of Kenya, with the aim of determining the chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility of pods of Acacia tortilis, A. nilotica, A. brevispica and leaves of Terminalia brownii and Berchemia discolor. In addition, the influence of supplementing Boer×Galla goats with these pods and leaves on weight gain and forage intake was assessed. The forage status during the study period was similar to that found in a rainy season. The pods and leaves had a CP ranging from 13.5 to 24.3%. A. brevispica was relatively high in fibre with CF, ADF and NDF of 26, 41.4 and 51.1%, respectively. Goats browsed on a diet containing 22.5% CP and was also high in manganese, iron and zinc while this browse and supplements were deficient in sodium, phosphorus and in some cases copper and zinc. In vitro dry matter digestibility of the leaves and pods ranged from 40.3% for T. brownii to 65.7% for A. nilotica. In the feeding experiment, goats supplemented with leaves or pods grew faster ( P<0.05) than controls. Males grew faster and consumed more supplemental feed ( P<0.05) than females. A. tortilis and A. nilotica were consumed in greater ( P<0.05) quantities among the supplements and goats fed on these had the best liveweight gains of 68.5 and 65.5 g d −1, respectively. Supplementation with either pods or leaves did not affect forage intake (mean intake=662.4 g d −1) in this study ( P>0.05). It is suggested that supplementation is necessary to increase weight gains in this area and mineral licks should be provided to prevent mineral deficiencies. Goat production in the rangelands could be increased if pods of A. tortilis and A. nilotica are collected during periods of abundance, stored and used as supplements for growing goats.

Lablab purpureus seed as a supplement for goats fed low quality roughage

Asian Australasian Journal of Anima Sciences (AJAS), Vol 6 No.4:515-519, December 1993 ISSN 1011-2367