The utilization of pangola grass hay by sheep and Angora goats.

Abstract

Six Angora goats and 6 Merino crossbred wethers were fed mature (8.2 g N/kg DM) and immature (19.5 g N/kg DM) Pangola grass hay and the intake digestibility and utilisation of these diets compared. Both species consumed, digested and utilised the immature hay with equal efficiency, and voluntary feed intake was depressed to the same extent in sheep and goats given mature hay. Goats digested the organic matter, NDF and ADF fractions of the mature hay to a significantly (P< O.05) greater extent than did sheep. Associated with these higher rates of fibre digestion in goats were significantly (P<O.O5) longer fluid retention times in the rumen, higher ammonia, propionic and isovaleric acid and lower acetic acid concentrations in ruminal fluid. It was concluded that the higher rates of fibre digestion in goats given mature hay was the result of longer feed retention times in the rumen and the maintenance of higher rumen ammonia levels than those found in sheep given the same diet.