Effects of Stocking Rate, Breed and Stage of Production on Energy Expenditure and Activity of Meat Goat Does on Pasture

Beker, A.; Gipson, T.A.; Puchała, R.; Askar, Ahmed; Tesfai, K.; Detweiler, G.; Asmare, A.; Goetsch, A.L.

doi:10.1080/09712119.2009.9707053

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This was observed by Animut et al (2005a), although for goats in the 2 grazing seasons, EE was greater for the greatest stocking rate compared with 2 lesser ones. Conversely, Beker et al (2009a) did not observe effects of stocking rate on grazing time or AEC in Boer and Spanish does when lactating and after weaning when the does were grazed on grass-forb pastures. The factors responsible for these different findings are unclear, although forage mass in the study by Beker et al (2009a) with both stocking rate treatments was considerably less than in the experiment by Animut et al (2005a,b).…”

Section: Grazing Management Practicescontrasting

confidence: 59%

Invited review: Feeding behavior of goats1,2

Goetsch

Gipson

Askar

et al. 2010

Journal of Animal Science

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Factors influencing the feeding behavior of goats include grazing management practices, type of vegetation and season, breed and stage of production, group size, and properties of diets fed in confinement. Considerable information has been gathered from visual observation during daylight. However, tools are now available to characterize the feeding behavior of goats while grazing and while in confinement throughout the day. Global positioning system collars can be used to assess horizontal and vertical distances traveled, up or down position of the head, and movement within pasture or rangeland areas. A commercially available leg activity monitor allows estimation of the number of steps and time spent standing, lying, and moving rapidly without grazing. However, these measurements do not directly determine grazing. Therefore, prediction equations based on visual observation must be developed. Classification tree analysis is a robust method in developing these equations because the decision tree can be pruned or expanded to provide the best fit. Another equipment system determines time spent eating, ruminating, and remaining idle from the pattern of jaw movement. In addition to use of n-alkanes as internal markers to estimate digestibility, their profile can provide an indication of the botanical composition of the selected diet. Automated feeding systems for confined goats permit determinations such as number of feeder visits and meals, eating time, and rate and pattern of feed intake. Heart rate measured while goats are in normal production settings can be used to predict total energy expenditure through multiplication by energy expenditure per heartbeat of individual animals. To partition the activity energy cost, an estimate of ME intake or measures of changes in body energy status and milk energy yield are needed to determine other sources of heat to be subtracted from total energy expenditure. These methods create the opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of factors influencing the feeding behavior of goats and the relationships with levels and efficiencies of production.

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Section: Grazing Management Practicescontrasting

confidence: 59%

Invited review: Feeding behavior of goats1,2

Goetsch

Gipson

Askar

et al. 2010

Journal of Animal Science

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“…It is reported that time spent by different breeds of goat for grazing might also be different. Beker et al (23) reported that Boer goats tended to spend more time for grazing compared to Spanish goats. In the study conducted by Fedele et al (24) in Italy, they also stated that Maltese goats farmed in a more controlled manner were more selective compared to a domestic goat breed farmed under extensive circumstances.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative investigation of some behavior traits of Honamlı,Hair, and Saanen goats in a Mediterranean maquis area

Akbaş¹,

Elmaz²,

Saatcı³

2017

Turk J Vet Anim Sci

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IntroductionAnimal behavior studies are scientific studies in which any kind of animal activity is observed. However, since there might be differences between species and breeds of animals, it is also needed to consider relationships of animals with each other and their environment in these studies. The fourth out of the 5 fundamental freedoms of animals, which were introduced in 1992 by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee, is about animals exhibiting their normal behaviors. Related studies indicate that animals exhibiting their natural behaviors move around more and have a healthier body structure; therefore, they also live for a longer time (1). Allowing animals to exhibit their natural behaviors is important in terms of meeting their needs (2). When the issue is approached from this perspective, it is significant to reveal goats' patterns of behavior in areas in and around forests found in their natural habitats.Goat breeding in Anatolian geography is observed to be carried out generally in areas in and around forests, as well as lands with inappropriate terrain conditions and areas that are not suitable for plant and animal production (3). Goats have a feeding behavior quite different than other farm animals and can feed on numerous plant species, including bush, brier, and small saplings of maquis (4). Compared to other farm animals, they are more selective when they are both feeding in their feed boxes and grazing (5). Goats, with a very developed ability of adaptation, are able to efficiently utilize bushy grazing lands in every season (6). In addition, some indigestible substances contained by bushes also restrict goats to graze for a long time (7). Goats tend to exhibit grazing behaviors for longer times compared to other ruminants. Even though they consume the forage more rapidly compared to sheep, they have a longer period of grazing. This is associated with the fact that goats are quite active and behave selectively when they are grazing. Goats exhibit numerous patterns of behavior to adapt to adverse effects caused by high temperatures. One of these is reducing feed intake voluntarily. They are observed to graze more at early hours in the morning and at late hours in the evening during warm seasons (8). Goats are also reported to adjust their grazing rates based on hours in a day (9). Differently from other ruminants, goats reach the branches of trees by standing on their hind legs and can eat offshoots, buds, and leaves (bipedal stance) (10). This behavior constitutes a considerably important situation in terms of silvopastoral systems of the Mediterranean region (11). It is reported that goats can

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“…An essential protein supplement was, therefore, necessary for sheep grazing the natural rangeland plants during the dry season. This requirement for supplementation may explain the significant reduction in the final body weight for animals during the dry season compared to those during the wet season (Table 2), taking into consideration the sizable increase in the energy requirements attributed to the energy cost for the grazing of the less dense dry pasture (Beker et al, 2009;Goetsch et al, 2010).…”

Section: Body Weight Changes Feed Intake and Digestibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Supplementation can enhance the digestible feed intake and improve the balance of nutritional components to maximize the efficiency of forage utilization (El-Shaer, 2010). It may reduce forage intake and fiber digestion (Garcés-Yépez et al, 1997) depending on the level of supplementation and the total intake, but it decreases the time spent grazing and the associated energy cost of activity (Beker et al, 2009) which can be appreciable. Consequently, the efficiency of nutrient utilization is positively modified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Grazing natural forages provide the least expensive source of nutrients. However, many factors affect the efficiency of utilizing these resources, such as the stocking rate, animal species and breed, production and physiological state (Beker et al, 2009;Askar et al, 2013), season of the year, and supplementary feeding when practiced (ElShaer, 2010). Supplementation may be necessary to meet the nutrient requirements of grazing animals and improve their performance (El-Shaer and Kandil, 1990) or maintain animals during the dry season (Pimentel et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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