NR 42. Forage nutritive quality evaluation of goat grazed savannas in a sustainable system in the mexican semiarid

Abstract

A study was conducted to measured the effect of rational pasturing of goats over vegetation with two stocking rates 163 and 40.8 AU/ha. During raining season grass recovered length after 75 d and 60 d after pasturing. Second pasturing did not allowed full recovery after 75 d. Shrubs recovered better after second grazing. Control did allowed a better initial recovering of grass and shrubs but did not permit better use of forage due to constant cut by goats. Result’s showed a significant difference (P>.001) in favor of rational grazing. The average weight of the adult females was 53 ± 5 kg. Average milk production was 400 ±67 kg in 210 days. A concentrate of 2.9 Mcal ME and 16 % CP was offered twice a day. Average voluntary feed intake was 1.880 kg DM per day with an annual total of 686.3 kg; of those 248.7 kg DM was provided by alfalfa hay from a forage bank corresponding to 36.2 % of the total feed intake; 210.9 kg or 30.7 % of the diet was concentrate, and 226.6 kg or 33.0 % was from the range land (grasses, shrubs and tree leaves).