Effect of natural browse fodder availability on feeding behaviour of goats

摘要

Feedingbehaviorofgoatsonnaturalpasturewasstudiedduringthreeconsecutiveseasonsoftheyear:dry,rainyandpost-rainy.Concurrently,observationsweremadeontheavailabilityoffivebrowseforagesbyfollowingtheirphenologicalphases.Availabilityofbrowseforagescomponents(greenleaves,litter,flowersandfruits/pods)variedwiththespeciesphenologicalstage.Acaciaraddiana,BalanitesaegyptiacaandZiziphusmauritianashowedalongcyclecomparedtoA.laetaandA.seyal,whichlosttheirleavesearly.Ingeneral,browseforageintermsofgreenleaves,litterandfruits/podswasavailablefromJulytoMarch.ThisforagewasparticularlybeneficialfromDecembertoMarchwhenherbaceousbiomassdecreasesinquantityandquality.Thefeedingbehaviorofgoatsvariedaccordingtoforageavailability.Themainactivityofgoatswasbrowsing,40%oftheirgrazingtimeinrainyseasonand60%indryseason.Grazingwasthesecondactivitywithamaximum(22to38%)intherainyseason,fromJulytoSeptember.Restingtimewashighindryseason,withamaximuminMarch,probablyduetohightemperatures.