Mixed grazing systems of goats with cattle in tropical conditions: an alternative to improving animal production in the pastureq

Abstract

Mixed grazing systems combining sheep and cattle have shown better growth performance for one or both species. This observation has been attributed to their complementary feeding behaviour and the reduced host infection by gastrointestinal nematodes. Less attention has been paid to mixed grazing systems combining goats and cattle. Here, continuously grazing goats mixed with cattle (M) were compared with control goats reared alone (C) under tropical conditions. The comparison was conducted with gastrointestinal nematode-infected (I) and non-infected (nI) goats. Thus, the four treatments were cattle with gastrointestinal nematode-infected goats (MI), gastrointestinal nematode-infected goats alone (CI), cattle with non-infected goats (MnI) and non-infected goats (CnI). Average daily gain (ADG, g/day) and grass production were measured for the four groups of animals (six goats and two heifers treated with MI or MnI) grazing for 3 months on 4 subplots. Monthly measurements were performed over 5-day periods. This pattern was replicated in space for a second set of four subplots and in time for six successive cohorts of animals (bands 1 to 6). The ADG of goats in mixed grazing conditions was higher than controls irrespective of the infection status (32.6 v. 18.4 g/day for MI v. CI; 44.2 v. 33.5 g/day for MnI v. CnI). Concomitantly, the average biomass was lower for mixed grazing animals compared with controls (174 v. 170 for MI and MnI; 235 v. 208 for CI and CnI, respectively), suggesting better use of the sward. For daily BW gain (g/kg DM), mixed grazing also yielded better results than the control (1.88 v. 0.52 g BW/kg DM per day for MI v. CI; 2.08 v. 1.47 g BW/kg DM per day for MnI and CnI). Mixed grazing of goats and heifers offers a promising alternative for increasing goat and overall animal production as well as improving the management of pastures.Keywords: mixed grazing, BW, goat, agro-ecological management, tropical ImplicationsThis study conducted over 2 years showed a higher average daily gain of grazing goats pastured together with cattle compared with goats reared alone, considering either the individual gain or gain per hectare. This increased gain occurred irrespective of the infection status of the goats. Moreover, the biomass was lower in mixed grazing conditions, likely due to improved use of the pasture by goats that were mixed with cattle. These results suggest that integrated grazing could be employed as an alternative agroecological strategy to increase performance per hectare and control residual biomass. In addition, this strategy represents an important alternative to reduce the use of anthelmintics.

Evaluation of the efficacy of ivermectin against Theileria orientalis infection in grazing cattle

“…In comparison with conventional indoor housing, raising cattle on pastures is known to be beneficial for the health of animals and has many other advantages, including greater cattle activity, improvements in productivity, good animal welfare, and reduction in rearing costs and workloads [11, 12]. However, raising cattle on pastures may also have disadvantages, such as the risk of being bitten by ticks and developing infections through tick-borne pathogens with related clinical symptoms [13].…”

Mixed Grazing and Dietary Supplementation Improve the Response to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasitism and Production Performances of Goats

“…The biomass and its nitrogen concentration offered in the Mixed grazing groups were improved by 20 and 18.5% compared with the Control groups (Szero and Splus, respectively). These observations could be explained by the hypothesis of dietary complementarity between the different ruminant species (21). Indeed, it has been shown with the same breeds that goats consumed the upper parts of the canopy, while cattle consumed all the parts of the herbaceous canopy with the help of their very prehensile tongue, thus reducing the residual biomass (22).…”

Pratiques d’éleveurs et résultats économiques d’élevage dans les exploitations urbaines et périurbaines de Niamey

“…Ils peuvent être écoulés très facilement du fait de leurs prix relativement bas. En association, l'élevage des petits ruminants est destiné à assurer les dépenses courantes ou saisonnières et celui des gros ruminants à la sécurisation financière et alimentaire des ménages (Madani et al, 2001 ;Corniaux et al, 2009 ;Alexis et al, 2014). Selon Alexis et al (2015), cette association permet une répartition des risques épidémiologiques, de l'accès aux ressources et de la sensibilité aux aléas climatiques entre les espèces.…”

“…Selon Alexis et al (2015), cette association permet une répartition des risques épidémiologiques, de l'accès aux ressources et de la sensibilité aux aléas climatiques entre les espèces. De plus, la complémentarité alimentaire des gros et petits ruminants, permet d'accroître la charge à l'hectare et augmenter la productivité des animaux (Alexis et al, 2014).…”