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Title: LEUCAENA AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR GOATS GRAZING BAHIAGRASS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Author
item EZENWA, I. - SW FLA RES. AND EDU. CTR.
item KALMBACHER, R. - RANGE CATTLE RES. CTR.
item WILLIAMS, M. - PREVIOUS ARS STARS EMP.
item GARY, L. - COOP EXT SERV.WAUCHULA,FL
item ARTHINGTON, J. - RANGE CATTLE RES. CTR.

Submitted to: Soil and Crop Science Society of Florida Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2004
Publication Date: 5/21/2005
Citation: Ezenwa, I.V., Kalmbacher, R.S., Williams, M.J., Gary, L.A., Arthington, J.D. 2005. Leucaena as a supplement for goats grazing bahiagrass in south florida. Soil and Crop Science Society of Florida Proceedings. 64:66-71

Interpretive Summary: Meat goat production in the United States has increased in the past several decades due to increased demand from expanding ethnic populations and the introduction of the Boer goat, a South African breed with superior growth rate. In Florida, most of the tropical grasses, such as bahiagrass, do not meet the nutritional requirement of fast growing Boer or Boer-cross kids. We looked at introducing a tropical shrub/tree, called leucaena, into bahiagrass pastures in Florida for goat production. Leucaena is readily browsed by goats, and since it is a legume, it generally has higher nutrient value (protein and energy) than tropical grasses. Weanling goat kids that grazed mixed leucaena-bahiagrass pastures maintained positive weight gains over the entire grazing season (July through November), gaining over 16 lb. In contrast, kids that grazed bahiagrass alone or bahiagrass plus a protein supplement gained less than 10 lb for the entire season and actually lost weight during the latter part of the grazing season. This work demonstrates that goat producers in Florida can substantially improve the performance of their animals and reduce supplementation requirements by introducing leucaena into their pastures.

Technical Abstract: Goats require protein supplementation while grazing bahiagrass (Paspalum natatum Flugge) during summer in Florida. We measured weight gains of Boer x Spanish goats (6-7 mo old) in July- Novembver, 2003 (140 d) while grazing leucaena [Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)de wit]with bahiagrass (LEUC), compared with grazing bahiagrass alone (CON), or bahiagrass with soybean (Glycine max.L.)meal fed at 50% of daily protein requirement (SMB). All goats received one-third of their daily energy requirement. Goats were continuously stocked on SBM and CON at 22 goats ha-1. Goats on LEUC were inoculated with mimosine-detoxfying microbes (synergistes jonesii), were stocked at 11 goats ha-1, and were rotated every 28 d between two paddocks. Average daily gains were positive on LEUC in each of the five, 28-d weight periods, but nil or negative in SBM and CON on two occasions in October and November. Over 140 d of grazing, goats on LEUC grew faser (P=0.0016) at 59 g d-1 and gained 8.3 kg head-1 than those on SBM and CON with 31 and 23 g d-1, and 4.3 and 3.3 kg head-1, respectively. Total liveweight gains per unit of land were similar (P= 0.2532)among the treatments, and averaged 94, 97, and 74 kg head-1 for LEUC, SBM, and CON, respectivly. Leucaena relults in greater individual weight gains for meat goats grazing bashiagrass in the summer than feeding a supplement that provides 50 of daily protein requirement.