Prediction of Intake of Hay Differing in Species and Maturity by Goats

Prediction of Intake of Hay Differing in Species and Maturity by Goats

Eight species of forage, a cool-season perennial (Festuca arundinacea) and annual grass (Triticum aestivum), four warm-season perennial grasses (Bothriochloa caucasica, B. ischaemum, Cynodon dactylon, and Tripsacum dactyloides), a warm season annual (Digitaria sanguinalis) and a perennial legume (Medicago sativa), were cut at two or three maturities to provide a wide array of quality difference (n=20). Twenty wether goats (Capra hicus) were fed the hays in four different trials using an incomplete block so that each hay was fed to four different goats. Alfalfa produced the highest DM, but lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake. Intake was best predicted with eating time, passage rate and lag time, and hay CP and ADF (R² =0.57). Digestibility was best predicted with percentage acid detergent fiber (ADF), permanganate lignin (PML) and CP, and ruminating time (R² =0.35). Weight gain (g/d) could be predicted with digestible dry matter intake (r² =0.42; P < 0.001). Regression curves were different (P < 0.05) among forage types.