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Diets of Angora Goats Grazing Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)-Infested Rangeland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Donald R. Kirby ,
Thomas P. Hanson  and
Carolyn Hull Sieg
Donald R. Kirby
Affiliation:
Animal and Range Science Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105
Thomas P. Hanson
Affiliation:
North Central Research Extension Center, Route 3, Box 174, Minot, ND 58701
Carolyn Hull Sieg
Affiliation:
USDA Forest Service, 501 East St. Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701
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Abstract

Angora goats have been suggested as biological control agents for leafy spurge, especially in environmentally sensitive or limited access areas. Dietary preferences and dietary nutritive content of herded Angora goats were evaluated over a two-year period in North Dakota. Relative preferences of forages were evaluated by comparing botanical composition of diets as determined by microhistological analysis of fecal samples to forage availability in the field. Leafy spurge and shrubs comprised the largest percentage of goat diets throughout each grazing season. Goats preferred leafy spurge and shrubs at all times and avoided most cool-season grass species. The nutritional requirements of Angora goats nursing kids were met throughout the grazing season. Use of Angora goats is another tool available to land managers to manage leafy spurge infestations in the Northern Plains.

Keywords

Leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. # EPHES, Angora goat, rangelandBiological controlEPHESintegrated managementnutrient contentrelative preference indexCP, crude proteinIVDMD, in vitro dry matter digestibilityP, phosphorusTDN, total digestible nutrients
Type
Research
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , December 1997 , pp. 734 - 738
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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