Publication Date
1993
Description
Live-weight gain of angora-type year-old wethcr goats in the spring and summer of 2 years was compared with the total legume and chicory content of 9 different grass, legume, chicory ( Cichorium intybus) mixtures. These pastures were grown in a cool moist temperate climate on fertile silt loam soil. The goats were held on a self• contained rotationally grazed system on each pasture type, leaving a post-grazing residual height of 10 cm. The live-weight gain of the goats responded quadratically to increasing legume and chicory content in both spring and summer. Live-weight gain was optimised when approximately 40% of the herbage on offer before grazing was legume and/or chicory, with little increase in live-weight gain above this. Although mean live-weight gain in spring (116 g/hcad/day) was higher than in summer (57 g/head/day) the shape of the curves was similar in both seasons. Most of the variation in live-weight gain between years was explained by the changing legume and chicory content in the pasture mixtures.
Citation
Stevens, D R.; Casey, M J.; Baxter, G S.; and Miller, K B., "A Response of Angora-Type Goats to Increases of Legume and Chicory Content in Mixed Pastures" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 15.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session37/15
Included in
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A Response of Angora-Type Goats to Increases of Legume and Chicory Content in Mixed Pastures
Live-weight gain of angora-type year-old wethcr goats in the spring and summer of 2 years was compared with the total legume and chicory content of 9 different grass, legume, chicory ( Cichorium intybus) mixtures. These pastures were grown in a cool moist temperate climate on fertile silt loam soil. The goats were held on a self• contained rotationally grazed system on each pasture type, leaving a post-grazing residual height of 10 cm. The live-weight gain of the goats responded quadratically to increasing legume and chicory content in both spring and summer. Live-weight gain was optimised when approximately 40% of the herbage on offer before grazing was legume and/or chicory, with little increase in live-weight gain above this. Although mean live-weight gain in spring (116 g/hcad/day) was higher than in summer (57 g/head/day) the shape of the curves was similar in both seasons. Most of the variation in live-weight gain between years was explained by the changing legume and chicory content in the pasture mixtures.
