Abstract :
This paper provides an insight to nutritional limitations of forages and other feed resources
and the use of supplementation technology by small farmers to optimize production potential
of goats in semiarid range environments. In developing countries, the potential for goat
meat production is limited by many environmental and nutritional factors. Free-ranging
goats can select their diet from a complex variety of available native plant species. Forage
quality and availability are reduced during winter and dry seasons of the year, affecting
nutrient intake. Furthermore, the presence of plant secondary metabolites (PSM) in shrub
species reduces the availability of energy, increasing the demand for glucose. Supplementation
is required to mitigate both, nutrient deficiencies and the effect of PSM toxicity.
Supplementation options include leguminous fodders that can serve as good protein and
energy sources. However, these fodders need to be irrigated for optimum forage production.
Cactus, which requires very little water and is frequently used in some developing countries
as feed supplement for ruminants during periods of severe drought, has the disadvantage of
high fibre and ash contents, and therefore, low energy and protein densities. Supplementation
can also include energy sources such as molasses, cereal grains and byproducts, oilseeds
and protein meals, minerals and vitamin A. Feed additives such as ionophores and polyethylene
glycol (PEG) still need more evaluation under range conditions. Low-level (0.2–0.4%
of body weight) cost-efficient high protein and mineral supplements should be considered
carefully. Supplementation should be specific, considering the protein content and mineral
profiles of forages in each region. Mineral and protein supplementation of goats consuming
high fibre-low protein forages, generally improve intake and performance. Hand-crafted
multi-nutrient blocks based on molasses and urea, can stimulate rumen fermentation and
supply nutrients needed to complement deficiencies of goats consuming low quality forages.
These bocks would require certain degree of compaction and the inclusion of lime
(calcium oxide) that reacts with molasses will aid in hardness to restrict intake. They can
be transported and managed easily and control supplement intake, while reducing the need
of salt as intake regulator and the risk of urea toxicity. Technology transfer to producers
should emphasis the use of cost effective and specific nutrient supplementation technology
to optimize growth and reproduction of range goats.
