Effect of stocking rate on the botanical composition and nutritive value of diets selected by West African dwarf goats maintained on researcher-managed and farmer-managed stylo fodder banks during the cropping season in Central Nigeria

In a researcher-managed and farmer-managed trial an investigation was carried out on the effect of stocking rate on the botanical composition and nutritive value of diets selected by West African dwarf goats grazed permanently on Stylosanthes hamata (stylo) fodder banks, during the cropping season in Central Nigeria. The stocking rates for the researcher-managed and farmer-managed were 29, 43 and 57 goats ha−1 and 22–25, 42–43, 50–55 and 68–92 goats ha−1 respectively. Extrusa samples from oesophageally fistulated goats collected at various intervals of grazing were used to determine the selectivity index, botanical composition, nutritive quality of diet and dry matter disappearance from nylon bags incubated in the rumen of cattle after 48 h. s indicated that in both trials goats selected more stylo than grass. The proportion of stylo in the diet increased with increase in stocking rate for the researcher-managed trial while the relationship was quadratic for the farmer-managed trial. ition, rumen-degraded extrusa dry matter had a quadratic relationship with time and stocking rate. Dietary neutral detergent fibre content was not significantly influenced by time of grazing or stocking rate. Crude protein content decreased with increase in grazing time. The effect of stocking rate on dietary crude protein content was not significant despite differences between treatments. Calcium and magnesium levels in the diets were sufficient to meet the requirements of goats.