Evaluation of Cultivated Summer Pastures for Meat Goats in Tennessee

Abstract

Lema, M., Kebe, S., Opio, R. and Fenderson, C. 2006. Evaluation of cultivated summer pastures for meat goats in Tennessee. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 30: 57–62.

A grazing trial was conducted to evaluate Puna forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), hybrid Penleaf pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and Sahara bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) as summer pasture for meat goats. Puna chicory was 28.3 and 67.7% higher (P<0.05) in crude protein (CP), 28.1 and 35.4% lower (P<0.05) in acid detergent fiber (ADF) and 40.0 and 46.0% lower (P<s0.05) in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) than Penleaf pearl millet and Sahara bermudagrass, respectively. Relative feed value (RFV), Ca, P, Mg and K contents were significantly higher (P<0.01) for Puna chicory than for Penleaf pearl millet and Sahara bermudagrass. Penleaf pearl millet was higher (P<0.01) than Sahara bermudagrass in P, K and Mg content. Puna chicory and Pearl millet produced 73 and 70% higher (P<0.05) forage CP per ha, respectively than Sahara bermudagrass. Average daily gain (ADG) and live weight gain per ha of does grazing Puna chicory were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those grazing Sahara bermudagrass does and Penleaf pearl millet. It is concluded that Puna chicory is a better fodder than Penleaf pearlmillet and Sahara bermudagrass.

Keywords:

• Chicory
• pearl millet
• bermudagrass
• summer pasture
• forage quality
• forage production
• Meat goat