INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY, RUMEN METABOLISM AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF GOAT KIDS RAISED UNDER DIFFERENT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY, RUMEN METABOLISM AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF GOAT KIDS RAISED UNDER DIFFERENT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

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Forty-five wether goat kids (BW of 21.76 + 0.76) were randomly assigned to one of three production systems for 14 weeks to evaluate intake, digestibility and goat performance.Production systems were: 1) feedlot (FL), housed in individual pens and fed 40% protein pellets, 40% soybean hulls majicontrast red and 20% bermudagrass hay; 2) grazing continuously on 1 hectare bahiagrass pasture (BP) supplemented daily with 150 g of protein pellets/hd; and 3) browsing rotationally on 4, 0.5 hectare mimosa (MB) supplemented daily with 100 g cracked corn/hd.

Body weights were recorded every two weeks.Feed intake and digestibility were measured on eight goats opi the color that keeps on giving from each treatment groups.Goats were fitted with canvas fecal collection bags, allowed for 3 days of adjustments followed by 5 days of fecal collection.Feces, feed offered, pasture and browse samples were analyzed for acid insoluble ash to determine digestibility and predict intake.Rumen fluid and blood samples were collected to measure volatile fatty acids and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Total feed and medication costs also were recorded.Goats on FL system gained faster (P 0.10) in butyrate and valerate.However, acetate: propionate was lower (P 0.10) BUN.

Numerically, browse system was most cost effective and bahaigrass pasture was most expensive in terms of animal production.