Fodder for goat feeding

some important description about fodders used for goat feeding.

1. FODDER USED FOR THE GOAT FEEDING
Basically goats are browsers standing on their hind limbs, they always like to pluck tender leafy twigs of
herbs, shrubs small trees. Goats have special feeding habits on account of their prehensile tongue and
movable upper lip. In comparison to other domestic animals, goats have unique preferences for shrubs
and tree leaves. Field observations indicate goats under browse conditions perform better. Devendra
(1975) found that voluntary intake by goats decreased as the forage matured. This effect is overcome
partially by chopping and pelleting the fodder. Goats are less sensitive to tannic acid than other animals.
Classification of common fodders fed to goats:
1. Leguminous fodder
2. Cereal fodder
3. Grass fodder
4. Tree fodder
Leguminous fodder
 Cowpea
 Co5
 Lucerne
 Stylo
Cowpea (Vigna ungiculata)
Other names:
Karamani,lobia,barbati.
Nutritive value:
Calcium -1.40%
Crude fibre -26.7%
Crude protein - 18%
Ether extract - 3%
Phosphorus -0.35%
TDN -59%
 It is superior than other legumes due to the low
fibre content and minimum wastage in feeding of
livestock.
 It has low level of anti nutritional and flatulence
producing factors than common beans.

2. Particulars of the variety Co5:
Crude protein - 20%
Dry matter content -14.64%
Green fodder yield -18-20%
Plant habit -semi spreading
Plant type - Indeterminate
Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
Local name:
Lucerne
Nutritive value:
Crude protein - 18 to 20%
Crude fibre -25 to 35%
 It contains saponins, higher quantity of soluble
leaf cytoplasmic proteins and pectins.
 Due to feeding of large quantity of Lucerne leads
to primary ruminal tympany or frothing bloat.
 It is grown where the inadequate water supply
for berseem.
 It continues supply of fodder for 3 to 4 years.
Stylo (Stylosanthe hameta )
Nutritive value:
Crude proteins - 10 to 11%
Calcium -0.6 to 1.72%
Phosphorus -0.1 to0.12%
Ash - 7.0 to 14.2%
 They are not very palatable at initial stages but
once the animals are accustomed to it, they
graze the plant readily.
 It is vigorous summer growing perennial plant.
 It is drought resistant

3. Cereal fodder
Fodder maize ( Zea mays )
Other names:
Makka cholam, makka, mokka
jonnalu,makkojola.
Nutritive value:
High in carbohydrates
Proteins - 8 to 10%
TDN - 60%
 Maize grains contains trypsin inhibitors.
 It is most important kharif crop also grown in
summer, rainy, early winter season .
Fodder sorghum (sorghum bicolor)
Other names:
Cholam, jower, jonnalu, jola, jwari.
Nutritive value:
High in carbohydrates.
Proteins - 4 to 5%
TDN -58%
Calcium -0.5%
Phosphorus -0.2%
 Sorghum at early stage contains highly cynogenic glucosides which is toxic to animals which lead
to death within 1 to 2 hours in acute cases.
 The brain and heart are the first tobe affected by lack of oxygen, and so the resulting clinical
signs prior to death include: breathing difficulties, rapid, weak, irregular pulse, anxiety and
restlessness followed by depression, staggering, muscle tremor, moaning, bloat, redmucous
membranes.
 It is mostly sown with legumes like cowpea inratio 2:1.
Grass fodder
Cumbu Napier grass (Cumbu × Napier grass)

4. Other names:
Hybrid Napier, cumbu Napier ottupull, Bajra Napier hybrid.
Nutritive values
Dry Matter - 17%
Crude proteins -65.12%
Oxalate -2.51%
 It is grown in all types of soil throughout the year
under irrigation condition.
 It has quick regeneration capacity
 Cumbu Napier grass has more palatability due to
the succulent stems with soft lush green leaves.
Guinea grass (Panicum maximum)
Other names:
Guinea grass, green panic
Nutritive value:
Proteins -8 to 10%
Crude proteins -8 to 12%
Crude fibre -31%
 Most of the Panicum varieties contain
hepatotoxins which may cause secondary
photosensitization. In that case, the affected
animals may be fed on chlorophyll free diet and
kept in darkness for a few days till recovery.
Para grass (Brachiaria mutica)
Other names:
Buffalo grass, water grass, Pani Wali ghas.
Nutritive value:
Crude proteins- 10.2%
Crude fibre -23.6%
 Para grass is highly palatable and nutritious
 It is rapid summer growing perennial plant
propagated by cuttings

5.  It can withstand prolonged flooding
Blue buffalo grass (Cenchrus ciliaris)
Other names:
Buffel grass, African foxtail, Anjan grass, Neelakolukkataipul var Co1
Nutritive value:
Crude protein - 11%
Neutral detergent fibre -72%
Acid detergent fibre -38%
Calcium and phosphorus in suitable ratio
 Anjan grass is relished bya all types of livestock. It is
the excellent type maintenance quality fodder and
can support milk yield without concentrate up to a
limited extent.
 It proy very good hay since it retains its nutritive
value even when ripe fully.
Tree fodder
Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala)
Other names:
Shoo babool, black wood, chiguru, su- babul, Ipil-
Ipil.
Nutritive value:
Crude protein - 22%
Crude fibre -11.84%
 It is rich source of carotene and vitamin A. The leaf
meal also contain good amount of riboflavin,
vitamin k and xanthophyll pigments.
 Mimosine is a toxic amino acid found in the leaves ,
seeds and stem of the leucaena sp. of plants
 Excess mimosine leads to embryonic death, lower
the conception, kidswith goiter.
Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium)
Other names:

6. Mexican lilac, mother of cocoa, quickstick, seemai Agathi, Seema konna, madri, saranga,
Gobbarda mara.
Nutritive value:
Crude protein -22.3%
Crude fibre -19.7%
NDF -49.7%
ADF -34.48%
Calcium - 1.2%
 Gliricidia is used as shade trees in coffee plantation
 It is also used as live fencing, fodder, firewood, green
manure, intercropping, and rat poison.
 Gliricidia retainsduring dry season when other
shedding thier leaves.
Sesbania (sesbania spp.)
Other names:
Basma, Agathi, Agate, Agasti, Anari, peragathi.
Nutritive value:
Crude protein -25 to 30%
Vitamin C -16.22%
Vitamin B1 -1.42%
Crude fibre -2.2%
 It is highly palatable by ruminants and well accepted
by monogastrics also.
 It contains low quantity of tannins also contain
canavanine.
 Seeds contain a toxin poisonous to fish.
 It supportwd a positive balance of the nitrogen in
feeding.
By
M.kamaraj