Intake, Digestibility and Nitrogen Utilization of Tropical Natural Grass Hay by Goats and Sheep

Abstract

Digestibility and metabolism trials were conducted to study the performance of goats and sheep fed tropical natural grass (Hyparrhenia spp.) hay. Animals were fed hay ad libitum and allowed free access to water. Goats consumed more (P.75) than sheep. The water intake (ml/gDM) by goats was lower (P<.05) than that by sheep. With the exception of crude fiber, goats and sheep exhibited similar patterns in their ability to digest the various nutrients in hay. Crude fiber digestibility was 60.25% for goats and 56.50% for sheep (P<.05). Nutritive evaluation of hay by using goats and sheep showed similar values indicating that goats were as reliable in predicting the nutritive value as were sheep. Both goats and sheep were in negative nitrogen balance. Nitrogen losses were similar for goats and sheep. Hay was not adequate to provide the animals energy and protein for maintenance. The goats' nutritional requirements were comparable to those of sheep. The advantages of higher dry matter intake, lower water consumption and higher digestive ability of crude fiber give goats a special ecological niche in the tropics. Copyright © 1976. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1976 by American Society of Animal Science