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Effect of NaOH dip-treatment on intake, digestibility and selection of previously-refused straw by goats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

A. R. Alimon ,
E. Owen ,
B. J. Hosking  and
G. Rios
A. R. Alimon
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 2AT
E. Owen
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 2AT
B. J. Hosking
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 2AT
G. Rios
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 2AT
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Extract

Wahed and Owen (1986) showed that increasing the amount of straw offered to allow refusal rates of 50% instead of the conventional 20% increased straw dry matter/digestible organic matter intake by 40%. Feeding generously to allow selective feeding was suggested as an alternative to alkali treatment of straw. Such a feeding strategy would be useful to farmers in developing countries where the cost of alkali treatment of straw is high. However the strategy generates large amounts of refusals. Unless refused straw can be utilised for other purposes, feeding at such generous levels will not be acceptable. This study was carried out to establish whether refused straw, if treated with alkali, can be re-fed to goats.

Twelve Saanen-type castrated goats aged 18-24 months were used in a change-over design experiment. Goats were housed in individual metabolism crates and fed one of the following:

  • 1.Untreated barley straw (S) offered in quantities to allow goats to refuse 50% of the amount offered.

  • 2.Untreated previously-refused-straw (RS) offered in quantities to allow refusal of 25% of the amount offered.

  • 3.NaOH dip-treated previously-refused-straw (DRS) offered in quantities to allow refusal of 25% of the amount offered.

Type
Goat Production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1989 , March 1989 , pp. 125
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1989

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References

Wahed, R. and Owen, E. 1986. The effect of amount offered on selection and intake of barley straw by goats. Animal Production 42: 473 (Abstract).Google Scholar