Preference of Boer goats for Namibian native forage legumes and Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
D. N. Thamina A , A. Kahumba B , M. N. T. Shipandeni B , E. Lutaaya B D and I. D. T. Mpofu C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Directorate of Agricultural Research and Development, Private Bag 13184, Windhoek, Namibia.
B University of Namibia, Department of Animal Science, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.
C Chinhoyi University of Technology, Department of Animal Production and Technology, 78 Off Harare – Chirundu Highway, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.
D Corresponding author. Email: elutaaya@unam.na
Animal Production Science 60(4) 567-572 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN17387
Submitted: 10 June 2017 Accepted: 20 May 2019 Published: 3 February 2020
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the relative palatability of four native forage legumes (Otoptera burchellii, Crotalaria argyraea, Crotalaria podocarpa and Vigna lobatifolia) in comparison with each other and with Lucerne (Medicago sativa). Eight weaned Boer goats aged 6 months and weighing 25.2 ± 4.9 kg were grouped by sex, and then randomly allocated to individual pens. Goats were simultaneously offered 100 g of each of the four native legumes and 600 g of M. sativa (as-is basis) over a 10-day period. Grass hay (Cenchrus ciliaris), fresh water and mineralised salt licks were available at all times. Grass hay was given to allow diet mixing and possibly ameliorate any undesirable effects, such as bloat, due to feeding on legumes alone. The percentage of each species consumed of that offered was associated (P < 0.001) with legume species, day and legume × day interaction. Over 95% of the O. burchellii, V. lobatifolia and Lucerne offered were consumed from Days 1 to 10. The amounts of Crotalaria spp. consumed fluctuated widely in the first 4 days, but increased thereafter to >95% of that offered. This study demonstrated that hay of all the four native forage legume hays were palatable to Boer goats, with the inferred ranking being: (Lucerne, V. lobatifolia) > O. burchellii > Crotalaria spp. Further studies are required to investigate the productivity of goats feeding on these native forage legumes, which have potential for use in marginal lands.
Additional keywords: acceptability, feed preference, forages, protein.
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