Publication Date

1997

Description

A field experiment was conducted in the dryland farming area of Northwest Venezuela in order to evaluate three diets in grazing goats (pasture only; grazing pasture + 0.3 kg of commercial concentrate/ animal/d; grazing pasture + restricted grazing for 2 hours daily in Leucaena leucocephala) on milk production (mp) and milk composition (fat -f- and mineral concentration -mc-). The experiment was laid out as randomized block design. The data showed significant difference (P<0.05) between treatments. Milk production increased in 50 and 70% when goats had access to commercial concentrate or Leucaena graizing as well as grass pasture compared with the control treatment. Milk production in goats with access to Leucaena was insignificantly different than goats on concentrate. Treatments did not affect milk composition. The results suggest that Leucaena leucocephala can supply an adequate amount of nutrient with similar value to commercial concentrate for milk production in grazing goats.

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Leucaena leucocephala as a Supplement for Goats on Tropical Pastures

A field experiment was conducted in the dryland farming area of Northwest Venezuela in order to evaluate three diets in grazing goats (pasture only; grazing pasture + 0.3 kg of commercial concentrate/ animal/d; grazing pasture + restricted grazing for 2 hours daily in Leucaena leucocephala) on milk production (mp) and milk composition (fat -f- and mineral concentration -mc-). The experiment was laid out as randomized block design. The data showed significant difference (P<0.05) between treatments. Milk production increased in 50 and 70% when goats had access to commercial concentrate or Leucaena graizing as well as grass pasture compared with the control treatment. Milk production in goats with access to Leucaena was insignificantly different than goats on concentrate. Treatments did not affect milk composition. The results suggest that Leucaena leucocephala can supply an adequate amount of nutrient with similar value to commercial concentrate for milk production in grazing goats.