Sustainable production of meat goats: grazing strategies and forage utilization

Jean-Marie Luginbuhl

Jean-Marie Luginbuhl North Carolina State University

Abstract

In the Southeastern USA, meat goats (Capra hircus hircus) are becoming increasingly important contributors to the income of many small producers. Meat goats frequently obtain more than 50% of their daily ration from browse but will perform well in grazing situations if management practices match their grazing behavior. This “generalist” feeding behavior represents a clear advantage in the ability to utilize a variety of landscapes and plant communities. Furthermore, if managed to match goat nutritional demands, these plant communities, composed of pasture and browse species, can provide an abundant, low-cost feed supply supplanting the need for expensive feed supplements that represent the highest expense of any meat goat operation. This can be achieved by developing a year-round forage program allowing for as much grazing as possible throughout the year. In addition, goats can be very effective biological control agents in beef cattle pastures invaded by woody vegetation and broadleaf weeds, in view of environmental concerns and elevated costs of other control methods such as mechanical cutting and herbicide applications. This presentation describes grazing/browsing behavior, grazing strategies and forage utilization research results obtained with meat goats at North Carolina State University using cool-season and warm-season perennial forages as well as summer and winter annual forages.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, North Carolina State University

Dr. Jean Marie “JM” Luginbuhl, Associate Professor of Crop Science and Animal Science at North Carolina State University, has been leading the Meat Goat and Forage Systems Research and Extension Program since October 1995. In that position, Dr. Luginbuhl is responsible for conducting research with meat goats and guiding the development of the meat goat industry. His current research program emphasis and goals include 1. Developing sustainable forage/browse based feeding systems for meat goats 2. Using goats as bio agents to control invasive herbaceous weeds and woody vegetation in pastures, forest land and other areas when grazing alone or in combination with cattle 3. Evaluating the browse potential of fodder tree species in agroforestry systems for meat goats. 4. Determining the copper tolerance of meat goats His current extension program 1. Provides statewide leadership in the development of the expanding meat goat industry through training, technology transfer and educational programs designed for cooperative extension agents, farmers and agribusiness professionals 2. Assist the fast-expanding North Carolina Meat Goat Producers Cooperative with the development of alternative marketing strategies for meat goats In the past, Dr. Luginbuhl has worked with small farmers and researchers in the Andes of Perú and in Morocco and Indonesia. Dr. Luginbuhl is presently the regional director for North America of the International Goat Association. Dr. Luginbuhl is a native of the city of Neuchâtel, located in the French part of Switzerland.