INTAKE AND DIET DIGESTIBILITY IN GOATS FED SIMPLE AND MIXED DIETS OF NATIVE WOODY PLANTS IN NE MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

EGEA, A.V.; FUCILI, M.; ALLEGRETI, L.; GUEVARA, J.C.; PAEZ LAMA, S.

Mendoza

Otro; XXXIV Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2016

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Grazing Creole goats in NE Mendoza incorporate over fifteen forage species into their diet. The shrubs Tricomaria usillo (TU) and Mimosa ephedroides (ME) stand out for their contribution to the bulk of the diet and high content of tannins. Diet diversity allows goats to reduce negative effects of tannins and to improve food intake and nutrient utilization. This study investigates whether offering multiple choices among tanniniferous (T) and non-tanniniferous (NT) plants has an effect on intake and diet digestibility. Fifteen female Creole goats were placed in individual pens, and were assigned to three groups (N=5) with two T (TU, ME) and three NT species (Prosopis flexuosa, Capparis atamisquea, Atriplex lampa). Two groups were offered single tannin-containing shrubs (SDTU; SDME) and the third group received a combination of all five forages (Mixed diet, MD). Dry matter intake (DMI), in vivo apparent digestibility of diet (ADD) and nitrogen (ADN) were determined. Goats offered the SDME reached greater ADN (P