Information on improved forages for goat grazing systems is lacking for the southeastern United States (US). Two cafeteria-style grazing trials were completed to determine preference of meat-type goats for cool-season annual clovers in the lower Piedmont-upper Coastal Plain region of Georgia. In experiment 1, 8 replicates of 6 plots (10-ft x 10-ft) of various clover cultivars were established in November, 1999. After establishment, each replicate of 6 plots was individually fenced and grazed for 48 hours by 4 mature Spanish does (total 32 animals) over 2 grazing periods in March and April, 2000. Strips of forage from each plot were cut and weighed pre- and post-grazing to determine dry matter (DM) consumed. Forage subsamples were dried, ground, andanalyzed for DM, protein, and fiber constituents. For the second experiment, 7 forages were established (6 clover + 1 hairy vetch) in 8 replicates in November, 2000, with each block of 7 plots individually fenced and grazed for 48 hours over two grazingperiods in March and May, 2001, with 5 yearling Boer-Spanish cross kids/block. Forage preference was determined after 4, 24, and 48 hours grazing during each period using a 1-10 ocular preference scoring system (l=no grazing and 10=completely grazed). Inexperiment 1, 'Dixie' and 'AU Robin' crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were most preferred, 'AU Sunrise' crimson clover and 'Yuchi' arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) were intermediate, and 'Segrest' ball clover (Trifolium nigrescens Viv.) and 'R18' rose clover (Trifolium hirtum All.) were least preferred. Forage preference was not influenced by DM yield, fiber content, or protein concentration. In experiment 2, Dixie and AU Sunrise crimson clover were most preferred in the first cutting, 3 arrowleaf clover types and 'Americus' hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) were intermediate, and R18 rose clover was least preferred. When the crimson clover plots were not available for the second grazing period, the goats most preferred Yuchi arrowleaf clover, with BYMV arrowleaf clover and hairy vetch intermediate, and rose clover least preferred. Crimson clover appears to be a useful forage for winter-spring grazing of goats in the southeastern US.
展开▼
