Meat Goats and Their Utilization of Browse Forage

Abstract

This review presents and discusses data related to meat goats and their performance when utilizing browse forages. Goats are capable of shifting feeding behaviour between grass and browse according to the availability of forage. Browse species are an important part of the diet for rangeland goats. They contain varying levels of crude protein; results from different studies indicate crude protein levels ranging from 6% in acacia leaves in Asia to 3()96 in Afzelia Africana in Nigeria and they show varying levels of intake and average daily gains for growing meat goats. Some browse species also contain tannin compounds, which may make protein and energy less available. Although Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been shown to increase intake and digestibility of tannin rich browse, the increase may not justify its use because of the expense involved. Presence of tannin at certain levels may be useful in diets of kids for increasing microbial protein supply. Browses remain a useful protein source for rangeland meat goats and should therefore be utilized wisely to optimise performance.

Keywords: Meat goats. browse. digestion. feed preferences. feeding behavior

Tanzania J.Agric.Sc. (2007) Vol. 8 No.2, 203 - 220