In Mediterranean regions goat feeding systems are mainly based on shrubland that contain a wide variety of species. There are only a few equations for predicting feed intake of stall-fed goats (Luo et al., 2004). The objective of this study was to develop a model for predicting the intake of lactating goats browsing on Mediterranean shrubland

Cabiddu, A.

Decandia, M.

Molle, G.

Pinna, G.

English

University of Kentucky

 XX International Grassland Congress 540y = 0.9733x + 2.8508R2 = 0.77160501001500 50 100 150Estimated intakeObserved intakeIntake by lactating goats browsing on Mediterranean shrubland M. Decandia, G. Pinna, A. Cabiddu and G. MolleIstituto Zootecnico e Caseario per la Sardegna 07040 Olmedo, Italy, Email: mdecandia@tiscali.itKeywords: intake, dairy goats, shrubland Introduction  In Mediterranean regions goat feeding systems are mainly based on shrubland that contain a wide variety of species. There are only a few equations for predicting feed intake of stall-fed goats (Luo et al., 2004). The objective of this study was to develop a model for predicting the intake of lactating goats browsing on Mediterranean shrubland. Materials and methods  A database of mean treatment observations (N=44) from goat feeding studies was analysed. The studies were conducted with dairy goats that browsed for 5-7 hrs/day on 5 ha shrubland (Decandia et al., 2000a,b). The goats received 200 g of concentrate and 200 g of ryegrass hay/day. The shrubland contained many tanniferous species and a low proportion of herbaceous species. The variables analysed were: body weight and body condition score (BCS); supplement intake; pasture intake, and botanical composition of the diet (Kababya et al.,1998); chemical composition of the diet (Meuret et al., 1995); botanical composition of pasture (Daget & Poissonet, 1969); fat corrected milk (FCM) and milk urea.  Results  The variables most strongly related to the intake were FCM, CP and polyphenolic tannin level in the diet. The effect of supplementation was not significant. Two prediction equations for pasture intake were (1)DMI = -18.63 + 6.75 CP + 0.02 FCM; N=38;  R2=0.77;  P<0.001; (2) DMI = 52.54 +0.037 FCM  16.44 PT/CP; N=40;  R2=0.59;  P<0.001, where: DMI=DM intake (g /Kg BW0.75 ); FCM=fat (4 %) corrected milk yield (kg);  (% DM); PT/CP= ratio between polyphenolic tannins and CP in the diet. Equation 1 has a higher R2 and is easier to implementation at farm scale than Equation 2. Comparing predicted with observed values, a strong relationship was found (R2=0.77; P<0.001; a, b not statistically different from 0 and 1, Figure 1). CP in the diet was related to the percentage of grass (GRAP) in the pasture and milk urea level (mg 100 ml-1; MU): (3)CP = 5.10 + 0.20 GRAP + 0.119 MU; N=31; R2=0.82; P<0.001.Using this relationship, a two-step prediction model of DM intake of browsing goats is proposed. Step 1: on the basis of GRAP and MU, CP content in the diet can be estimated (Equation 3). Step 2: knowing FCM and dietary CP level, the DMI at pasture can be predicted (Equation 1). Conclusions  This model provides a useful tool for estimating the intake of goats browsing Mediterranean shrubland rich in tanniferous species, with a low percentage of herbaceous species. Acknowledgement This study has been funded by Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. References Decandia M., Sitzia M., Cabiddu A., Kababya D., Molle G., (2000a). The use of polyethylene glycol to reduce the anti-nutritional effects of tannins in goats fed woody species. Small Ruminant Research 38, 157-164. Decandia M., Molle G., Sitzia M., Cabiddu A., Ruiu P.A., Pampiro F., Pintus A., (2000b). Responses to an antitannic supplementation by browsing goats. Proc of VII° International Conference on goats 15-18 May 2000 Tours, France. pp 71-73. Luo J., Goetsch A. L., Nsahlai, I. V., Moore, J. E., Galyean, M. L., Johnson, Z. B., Sahlu, T., Ferrell C. L., Owens F. N. (2004) Voluntary feed intake by lactating, Angora, growing and mature goats.  Small Ruminant Research 53, 357-378.   Kababya D., Perevolotsky A., Bruckental I., Landau S., (1998). Selection of diets by dual-purpose mamber goats in Mediterranean woodland. Journal of Agricultural Science Cambridge 131, 221-228. Meuret M., Bartiaux-Hill N. and Bourbouze A., (1985). Evaluation de la consommation dun troupeau de chèvres laitières sur parcours forestier: - Méthode dobservation directe des coups de dents, - Méthode du marquer oxyde de chrome. Annales de Zootechnie, 34: 159-180. Figure 1 Relationship between observed and estimated pasture DM intake (g/kg BW0.75) 

Intake by Lactating Goats Browsing on Mediterranean Shrubland

University of Kentucky UKnowledge International Grassland Congress Proceedings XX International Grassland Congress Intake by Lactating Goats Browsing on Mediterranean Shrubland M. Decandia Istituto Zootecnico e Caseario per la Sardegna, Italy G. Pinna Istituto Zootecnico e Caseario per la Sardegna, Italy A. Cabiddu Istituto Zootecnico e Caseario per la Sardegna, Italy G. Molle Istituto Zootecnico e Caseario per la Sardegna, Italy Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc  Part of the Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, and the Weed Science Commons This document is available at https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/satellitesymposium4/83 The XX International Grassland Congress took place in Ireland and the UK in June-July 2005. The main congress took place in Dublin from 26 June to 1 July and was followed by post congress satellite workshops in Aberystwyth, Belfast, Cork, Glasgow and Oxford. The meeting was hosted by the Irish Grassland Association and the British Grassland Society. Proceedings Editor: D. A. McGilloway Publisher: Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands © Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, 2005 The copyright holder has granted the permission for posting the proceedings here. This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Plant and Soil Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Grassland Congress Proceedings by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu. Utilisation of grazed grass in temperate animal systems 191y = 0.9733x + 2.8508R2 = 0.77160501001500 50 100 150Estimated intakeObserved intakeIntake by lactating goats browsing on Mediterranean shrubland M. Decandia, G. Pinna, A. Cabiddu and G. Molle Istituto Zootecnico e Caseario per la Sardegna 07040 Olmedo, Italy, Email: mdecandia@tiscali.it  Keywords: intake, dairy goats, shrubland  Introduction  In Mediterranean regions goat feeding systems are mainly based on shrubland that contain a wide variety of species. There are only a few equations for predicting feed intake of stall-fed goats (Luo et al., 2004). The objective of this study was to develop a model for predicting the intake of lactating goats browsing on Mediterranean shrubland.  Materials and methods  A database of mean treatment observations (N=44) from goat feeding studies was analysed. The studies were conducted with dairy goats that browsed for 5-7 hrs/day on 5 ha shrubland (Decandia et al., 2000a,b). The goats received 200 g of concentrate and 200 g of ryegrass hay/day. The shrubland contained many tanniferous species and a low proportion of herbaceous species. The variables analysed were: body weight and body condition score (BCS); supplement intake; pasture intake, and botanical composition of the diet (Kababya et al.,1998); chemical composition of the diet (Meuret et al., 1995); botanical composition of pasture (Daget & Poissonet, 1969); fat corrected milk (FCM) and milk urea.  Results  The variables most strongly related to the intake were FCM, CP and polyphenolic tannin level in the diet. The effect of supplementation was not significant. Two prediction equations for pasture intake were (1) DMI = -18.63 + 6.75 CP + 0.02 FCM; N=38;  R2=0.77;  P<0.001; (2) DMI = 52.54 +0.037 FCM – 16.44 PT/CP; N=40;  R2=0.59;  P<0.001, where: DMI=DM intake (g /Kg BW0.75 ); FCM=fat (4 %) corrected milk yield (kg);  (% DM); PT/CP= ratio between polyphenolic tannins and CP in the diet. Equation 1 has a higher R2 and is easier to implementation at farm scale than Equation 2. Comparing predicted with observed values, a strong relationship was found (R2=0.77; P<0.001; a, b not statistically different from 0 and 1, Figure 1). CP in the diet was related to the percentage of grass (GRAP) in the pasture and milk urea level (mg 100 ml-1; MU): (3)CP = 5.10 + 0.20 GRAP + 0.119 MU; N=31; R2=0.82; P<0.001.Using this relationship, a two-step prediction model of DM intake of browsing goats is proposed. Step 1: on the basis of GRAP and MU, CP content in the diet can be estimated (Equation 3). Step 2: knowing FCM and dietary CP level, the DMI at pasture can be predicted (Equation 1).  Conclusions  This model provides a useful tool for estimating the intake of goats browsing Mediterranean shrubland rich in tanniferous species, with a low percentage of herbaceous species.  Acknowledgement This study has been funded by Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.  References Decandia M., Sitzia M., Cabiddu A., Kababya D., Molle G., (2000a). The use of polyethylene glycol to reduce the anti-nutritional effects of tannins in goats fed woody species. Small Ruminant Research 38, 157-164. Decandia M., Molle G., Sitzia M., Cabiddu A., Ruiu P.A., Pampiro F., Pintus A., (2000b). Responses to an antitannic supplementation by browsing goats. Proc of VII° International Conference on goats 15-18 May 2000 Tours, France. pp 71-73. Luo J., Goetsch A. L., Nsahlai, I. V., Moore, J. E., Galyean, M. L., Johnson, Z. B., Sahlu, T., Ferrell C. L., Owens F. N. (2004) Voluntary feed intake by lactating, Angora, growing and mature goats.  Small Ruminant Research 53, 357-378. Kababya D., Perevolotsky A., Bruckental I., Landau S., (1998). Selection of diets by dual-purpose mamber goats in Mediterranean woodland. Journal of Agricultural Science Cambridge 131, 221-228. Meuret M., Bartiaux-Hill N. and Bourbouze A., (1985). Evaluation de la consommation d’un troupeau de chèvres laitières sur parcours forestier: - Méthode d’observation directe des coups de dents, - Méthode du marquer oxyde de chrome. Annales de Zootechnie, 34: 159-180. Figure 1  Relationship between observed and estimated pasture DM intake (g/kg BW0.75) 

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Intake by Lactating Goats Browsing on Mediterranean Shrubland

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