Voluntary feed intake and fibre digestion of forages by small ruminants with particular reference to goats

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to compare the voluntary feed intake and the digestion of fibre by goats and sheep.

A digestibility trial involving eight goats and eight sheep was carried out using two forages; dried grass of medium quality and poor quality hay. Both diets were fed ad libitum. A changeover design was incorporated in the trial.

Voluntary feed intakes were similar for goats and sheep when expressed on either a metabolic or live weight basis. There were no differences in the ability of goats and sheep to digest the diets except in the case of lignin. The apparent digestibility of lignin was higher than expected and was possibly caused by the formation of artifact lignin.

Highly significant differences were found between the voluntary feed intake and the digestibility of the dried grass and hay for both goats and sheep. The voluntary feed intake and digestibility were greater for dried grass.

In this trial, the components of the diet for which apparent digestibility was determined were; Dry matter, Organic matter. Nitrogen G-ross energy, Neutral detergent fibre, Acid detergent fibre, Cellulose and Lignin.