Proceedings
In a five-year project utilization of brush species by goats, stocking rates, animal performance and nutritive value of brush species was studied. Ten experimental pastures were established on a typical northern Mexico desert grassland in the state of Chihuahua with an abundance of Spiny kidneywood (Eysenhardtia spinosa), catclaw (Mimosa biuncifera), mesquite (Prosopis sp.), javalina brush (Microrhamnus sp.), brickelbrush (Brickellia sp.) and broom snake weed (Xantocephallum sp.). Grass forage production on the site was low (94 kg, D.M./ha) with a carrying capacity of 20 ha/animal unit (A.U.) Brush species on these areas are not palatable to cattle. Stocking rate was calculated on a factor of 6 adult goats/A.U. Spiny kidneywood and catclaw were highly palatable to goats. Jaavalina brush was not consumed except for the immature fruits. Mesquite was utilized when grazing pressure was high. Brickellbrush was only consumed occasionally. Broom snakeweed was highly preferred on clipped pasture causing toxicity problems during its growing stage. Grass consumption occurred only when shrub forage became scarce. Stocking rate was higher than calculated on the clipped pastures 7 goats/A.U., with 12 goats/A.U. on the unclipped pastures. The nutritive value of the shrub species was more than satisfactory, particularly catclaw and spiny kidneywood. Protein values were high from 9.9 percent (brickellbrush) to 17 percent (catclaw, spiny kidneywood and mesquite). In vitro dry matter digestibility was good, from 54 to 58 percent. Neutral and acid detergent fiber values were 36 percent and 29 percent. Cellulose and hemicellulose contents were 20.4 and 6.4 percent. Goats on unclipped pastures, with access to abundant shrub foilage, gained weight compared to the animals on the clipped pastures
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
Scottsdale, AZ (EUA)
1982
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| Subjects: | CAPRINOS, ALIMENTACION DE LOS ANIMALES, FORRAJES, CARGA ANIMAL, ARBUSTOS, FORRAJE TOSCO, MALEZAS, CONSUMO DE FORRAJES, DIGESTIBILIDAD, MEXICO, |
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| Summary: | In a five-year project utilization of brush species by goats, stocking rates, animal performance and nutritive value of brush species was studied. Ten experimental pastures were established on a typical northern Mexico desert grassland in the state of Chihuahua with an abundance of Spiny kidneywood (Eysenhardtia spinosa), catclaw (Mimosa biuncifera), mesquite (Prosopis sp.), javalina brush (Microrhamnus sp.), brickelbrush (Brickellia sp.) and broom snake weed (Xantocephallum sp.). Grass forage production on the site was low (94 kg, D.M./ha) with a carrying capacity of 20 ha/animal unit (A.U.) Brush species on these areas are not palatable to cattle. Stocking rate was calculated on a factor of 6 adult goats/A.U. Spiny kidneywood and catclaw were highly palatable to goats. Jaavalina brush was not consumed except for the immature fruits. Mesquite was utilized when grazing pressure was high. Brickellbrush was only consumed occasionally. Broom snakeweed was highly preferred on clipped pasture causing toxicity problems during its growing stage. Grass consumption occurred only when shrub forage became scarce. Stocking rate was higher than calculated on the clipped pastures 7 goats/A.U., with 12 goats/A.U. on the unclipped pastures. The nutritive value of the shrub species was more than satisfactory, particularly catclaw and spiny kidneywood. Protein values were high from 9.9 percent (brickellbrush) to 17 percent (catclaw, spiny kidneywood and mesquite). In vitro dry matter digestibility was good, from 54 to 58 percent. Neutral and acid detergent fiber values were 36 percent and 29 percent. Cellulose and hemicellulose contents were 20.4 and 6.4 percent. Goats on unclipped pastures, with access to abundant shrub foilage, gained weight compared to the animals on the clipped pastures |
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