Digestibility and intake of various native and introduced forages by goats and hair sheep in Northeast Brazil.

Abstract: Results from a series of studies conducted at the EMBRAPA/CNPA were used to evaluate the quality of various native and introduced forages fed to goats and tropical hair sheep. Reduced forage quality was sttributed to a decreased dry matter intake and digestibility, decreases nitrogen content and intake appeared to be associated more with an increase in cell wall components, and a reduction in digestibility were affected by stage of maturity and forage species. Dry matter intake was lower for the grasses and digestibility was lower for the range species. [Digestibilidade e consumo de várias forragens nativas e introduzidas para cabras e ovelhas lanadas no Nordeste do Brasil].