da Silva, J. H. V. ; Rodrigues, M. T. ; Campos, J., 1999. Influence of selection on the quality of the ingested diet by goats with hays offered in excess. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 28 (6): 1419-1423

Influência da Seleção sobre a Qualidade da Dieta Ingerida por Caprinos com Feno Oferecido em Excesso

The feeding behaviour, DM intake and performance of goats fed hay of ramie (Boehmeria nivea), soyabean (Neonotonia wightii) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), offered to allow an excess of 30 or 60% above the intake measured the previous day, were investigated. 36 goats were allotted to a completely randomized design with six treatments in a factorial arrangement of 3 x 2 (hay and level of offer). Mean particle size of the hay was kept constant at 0.4 cm. DM and CP intake increased as ramie hay was fed at 60% excess compared with 30%. A reduction in lignin intake occurred when soyabean hay was fed at 60%. Conversely, a decrease in CP intake and an increase in ADF and acid detergent lignin were observed as elephant grass offered varied from 30 to 60%. Higher daily weight gain was observed for animals fed ramie hay.

da Silva et al., 1999