Production Potential of a Natural Pasture Compared to a Wheat Pasture, Both Grazed by Lactating Goats under Mediterranean Climate Conditions

Authors : Basri Hakan HAKYEMEZ, Ahmet GÖKKUŞ, İsmail Yaman YURTMAN, Türker SAVAŞ

Pages : 501-511

View : 26 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2008-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The aim of this study was to extend the grazing period using a wheat pasture that produced high quality forage, and to compare the productivity of natural and wheat pastures for grazing goats during a 3-year period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2003-2005); in a Mediterranean zone of Turkey. Twelve 3-4-year-old Saanen goats were allocated to each pasture insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(10 goats ha-1);. Pastures were grazed for 2 months insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(May and June); in 2003 and for 3 months insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(April, May, and June); in 2004 and 2005. In the study, pasture yield and hay intake, crude protein insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CP);, neutral detergent fiber insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(NDF);, and acid detergent fiber insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ADF); content of the hay, and milk yield and milk fat percentage were determined. Pasture yield was significantly affected by pasture type insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.001); for each year and the wheat pasture insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5.34-6.51 t ha-1); yielded approximately 3.5-fold more hay than the natural pasture insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.48-1.88 t ha-1);. Goats in the wheat pasture consumed significantly more forage in 2003 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P = 0.015);, 2004 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.001);, and 2005 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.001);. Average hay intake in the wheat pasture ranged between 2.32 ± 0.27 and 2.53 ± 0.27 kg d-1 in 2003, 1.42 ± 0.26 and 3.35 ± 0.26 kg d-1 in 2004, and 2.69 ± 0.25 and 3.33 ± 0.25 kg d-1 in 2005, whereas it ranged between 1.54 ± 0.27 and 1.95 ± 0.27 kg d-1 in 2003, 0.79 ± 0.26 and 1.79 ± 0.26 kg d-1 in 2004, and 0.81 ± 0.25 and 1.60 ± 0.25 kg d-1 in 2005 in the natural pasture. Most of the interactions between pasture type and grazing month were statistically significant in terms of the CP, NDF, and ADF content of the pasture samples. In the first months CP content of the hay in the wheat pasture was higher than in the natural pasture, whereas this was reversed, especially in June. In addition, NDF and ADF content were not similar to CP content. In general, daily milk yield of the goats grazed on the wheat pasture was higher than that of those grazed on the natural pasture throughout the study. Milk yield was consistent with hay intake and milk fat percentage was inversely related to milk yield during the study. It was concluded that the wheat pasture had better potential for supplying nutrients to lactating dairy goats than did the natural pasture in spring.
Keywords : Pasture type, pasture yield, hay intake, milk yield, goat