Feeds And Feeding Of Sheep And Goat
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Feeds And Feeding Of Sheep And Goat
ABSTRACT
The voluntary intake, feed selectivity, and growth performance of 24 Ethiopian rams and 24 Galla goats were compared when provided three levels of sorghum stover.
The observed amounts were 25, 50, and 75 g/kg living weight per day. Measurements of intake, growth, and feed selectivity were collected throughout a 10-week period.
Sheep and goats devoured more stover (P<0.001) as the rate of offer increased (22, 31, 32 gDM/kg live weight per day for sheep and 19, 26, 29 g/kg live weight per day for goats). Increasing the level of offer above 50g/kg living weight per day did not result in a significant increase in intake.
There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in feed selection between sheep and goats. As the availability of leaf and sheath matter grew, both species demonstrated a similar preference.
Sheep acquired more weight (P<0.001) than goats at all rates of offer (28.0 vs 9.0; 54.0 vs 23.0; 62.0 vs 31.6 in favour of sheep). Those on a higher level of offer had a greater rate of growth than those on a lower level.
It was determined that both species can benefit from generous offers, and that the benefit, as measured by increased intake and growth, is attributable to selective feeding. Chapter one
1.0 Introduction
Previous research (Aboud et al, 1992) clearly demonstrated the benefits of selective feeding. As a result of generous offers, sheep performed better and consumed more digestible materials by selectively consuming leaf and sheath fractions of sorghum stover. This insight is useful for small ruminants in the tropics because conventional feeding practices rely heavily on crop wastes.
However, there is little evidence in the literature to suggest that Aboud et al. (1992)’s strategy would be as effective for goats as it was with sheep. Comparative investigations of selective efficiency in sheep and goats have yielded inconsistent results (Huston, 1978; Devendra and Bums, 1983).
When given the opportunity to eat selectively, goats in the tropics can take feed fractions of greater nutritional quality than sheep (Devendra and Burns, 1983; Hoppe et al., 1977; Huston, 1978).
This observation contradicts research conducted in temperate countries, which have demonstrated that sheep outperform goats under the majority of practical feeding regimes.
A feeding and performance research on Small East African goats and Red Maasai sheep in Tanzania (Shoo, 1986) yielded equivocal results, while sheep appeared to perform better than goats when fed a basal diet of Chloris gayana hay with Leucaena as a supplement.
However, Shoo’s (1986) observations did not include a comparison of the two species’ selective eating abilities. The introduction of supplemental forage may have influenced the results, as goats are known to prefer browse species (Lu, 1988).
The majority of comparative studies in the tropics were conducted under grazing conditions, whereas those in temperate countries involved comparisons under stall-feeding conditions, in which feed was offered at restricted levels, typically at 35 g dry matter M(D)/kg live weight per day or to achieve a 10-20% refusal.
Comparative studies under grazing or in stalls with limited levels of offer may produce deceptive results (Demment and Van Soest, 1983). Restricted amounts of offer do not typically provide enough opportunity for selective feeding (Aboud et al, 1993). This is especially serious when low-quality agricultural leftovers are utilised in comparisons.
There has been no performance comparison between sheep and goats fed untreated crop residues at levels suitable for selective consumption. Alimon (1989) only measured goats’ digestible organic matter (OM) consumption as feed levels increased, but no corresponding growth performance was measured. Aboud et al. (1993) demonstrated that specific degrees of offer induced sheep to eat selectively. Offering the same sort of sorghum stover to goats and sheep at these levels may result in equal performance.
GOALS OF THE STUDY
The overall goal of the research was to develop better ways to feed sugar cane and some protein-rich foliage species to small ruminants in order to maximise feed intake and performance.
The study aimed to evaluate how different animal species (sheep and goats) and group sizes (single and group pens) affect feed intake, behaviour, and growth rate.
• Investigate the impact of various feed parameters, including sugar cane and Acacia leaf processing methods, sugar cane feed levels, concentrate supplementation, and foliage presentation methods.
-The use of bamboo charcoal to minimise the antinutritional effects of tannins in Acacia leaf on feed intake, behaviour, and growth rate.
• Determine the intake potential of sugarcane and three tropical foliage species by small ruminants.
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