Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
pelleted, or coarse feed compared to fi nely ground feeds.
Even more than cattle and sheep, goats may refuse to eat
moldy or fermented feeds. Cereals, cereal by-products, and
oil seed meals are readily acceptable. However, goats may
refuse to eat rapeseed meal, dehydrated alfalfa, fl our meal,
or animal fat.
barley, and wheat in energy content for goats is small, so
cost per unit of energy usually determines which grain
should be used. Although it is not recommended, pearl
millet grain can substitute successfully for corn in com-
plete diets for lactating dairy goats but not for growing
animals according to Glaye et al. (1997). Metabolizable
energy of pearl millet is only 90% of that for corn for
mature goats, and its protein is not used effi ciently (Terrill
et al., 1998). Milo may promote urinary calculi if not
balanced with proper minerals and should be used with
caution for male goats. Being very rapidly fermented,
wheat should not constitute more than 50% of the grain
mix. Oats usually are not cost effective. Grinding pro-
motes dustiness (undesirable for goats) and increases feed
cost. Yet, cracking exposes the endosperm and improves
the digestion of feed grains. Vegetable oil or animal fats
also are fed to increase the energy density of the diet.
However, feeding more than 7-8% fat in the diet may
negatively impact rumen fermentation and depress fi ber
digestion.
E NERGY C ONCENTRATES
Energy concentrates are defi ned as feeds with less than
20% protein and less than 18% fi ber. High - energy feeds
include all cereal grains, some root crops, fl ourmill and
bakery by-products, and many other food manufacturing
by-products such as beet pulp and citrus pulp.
When forage or browse crops are low in digestible
energy content, 0.25-0.50 kg shelled corn or whole cot-
tonseed per goat daily often is provided to supplement the
diet with digestible energy. Whole cottonseed contains
high levels of CP and TDN and requires no processing,
which makes it a very desirable by-product feed. The
energy in WCS is primarily from fat. Whole cottonseed
also contains gossypol, a polyphenolic yellow pigment
that has deleterious effects on male reproduction. Adding
whole cottonseed to medium- or low-quality forage diets
for growing male goats has had detrimental effects on
animal production; however, when limited to 15% of diet
DM, whole cottonseed consumption improved dry matter
digestibility and passage and had no adverse effect on
growth or sperm quality in growing male goats (Solaiman
et al., 2009; Table 10.4). The difference among corn, milo,
P ROTEIN C ONCENTRATES
When forage is low in protein content or availability, addi-
tional protein supplements are needed for maximum
production or performance. Protein concentrates usually
contain at least 20% crude protein. High-protein feeds
include alfalfa hay, alfalfa meal or cubes, and other high-
protein concentrates such as oilseed by-product meals (cot-
tonseed, peanut, soybean, etc.). Corn gluten meal has a
Table 10.4 Growth performance, scrotal circumference, and semen quality of goat kids fed diets with
different amounts of whole cottonseed.
Whole cottonseed, % DM
P - value a
Item
0
15.7
32.7
SEM
Linear
Quadratic
Average daily gain, g
81.4
109.8
85.7
6.83
0.66
0.01
Average daily feed intake, g
948.3
1,295.6
1,084.7
103.0
0.37
0.05
Gain:Feed (G:F)
0.09
0.09
0.08
0.01
0.70
0.84
Scrotal circumference, cm
23.1
22.3
20.4
0.31
0.0001
0.22
Sperm quality
Normal, %
81.0
73.9
71.5
6.1
0.30
0.76
Gross motility (scale 0 - 5)
4.90
4.52
4.56
0.11
0.05
0.16
Progressive motility, %
72.3
67.2
59.2
5.89
0.14
0.84
Head abnormality, %
8.24
4.56
15.41
5.80
0.40
0.33
Mid - piece abnormality, %
9.49
10.6
12.1
2.84
0.54
0.96
Tail abnormality, %
2.52
2.83
4.62
1.36
0.32
0.67
a Based on orthogonal contrasts for equally spaced treatments.
Source: Solaiman et al., 2009 .
Search WWH ::




Custom Search