Potential of crops wastes in goat production in northern Mexico
In Northern Mexico several million goats are kept under extensive management depending on range land for their feed. In areas where crop production is practiced, management has been modified to utilize crop wastes. The objective of this study was to quantify production under such conditions. A group of 45 goats was selected from two farms and subdivided into uniform groups of 15 goats (mean liveweight 45.6 kg) to receive the following treatments: 1) Fully confined and fed alfalfa hay ad libitum, 2) Pastured with main flock without supplementation, 3) Pastured with main flock and sudangrass hay offered ad libitum at night. The goats had kidded about 3 months prior to initiating the experiment. Measurements of milk production, body weight and forage intake (except under pasture) were taken. In 1979 milk production (kg/goat/d) and liveweight gain (kg) over the experimental period for the three treatments were respectively: FARM A: 1) 0.81 and 4.5; 2) 0.89 and 1.2; 3) 0.95 and 2.9. FARM B: 1) 0.68 and 7.8; 2) 0.77 and 4.5; 3) 0.85 and 3.7. For milk production treatments 2 and 3 were superior to 1 and treatment 1 was superior to 2 and 3 for body weight change. In 1980 similar trends were observed. The results suggest high potential feeding value of crop wastes when compared to goats feeding alfalfa, though management differences between treatments resulted in a different partitioning of energy consumed between milk production and liveweight gain. Intake of sudangrass indicated lower availability of crop wastes on farm B than on farm A. It is concluded that grazing crop wastes provides a viable alternative to fully confined management and has considerable potential for improving goat production in Northern Mexico
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
Scottsdale, AZ (EUA)
1982
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