Effect of Grazing Activity and Supplementary Feeding on Energy Utilization by Goats

Published: August 22, 2022

By: A.R. Askar, H. S. Badawy, M. S. Nassar, H. G. Helal, S. Abo Bakr, E. Y. Eid, Fayza M. Salem, Hend M. Aziz, H. M. El-Shaer / Animal and Poultry Nutrition Department, Desert Research Center, P.O. Box 11753, El-Matareya, Cairo, Egypt.

INTRODUCTION

Goats are very important to the world’s food security and supply because of their ability to utilize fibrous materials not of immediate nutritional value to people. Feed accounts for about 70% of the cost of the livestock production, approximately one-half of the production cost for ruminants is in feed used for body weight and maintenance requirements. However, one of the most important factors affecting the energy requirement for maintenance (ME_m) is an animal’s activity (NRC, 2007). The energy cost for grazing activity has been quite difficult to study (Goetsch et al., 2010); therefore, in most pastoral production systems the magnitude of energy loss is unknown. By gaining few understanding of factors influencing the energy cost for grazing activity, it will be possible to employ management practices that minimize this energy loss, thereby increasing the level of production by elevating efficiencies of feed utilization. This will help to take a correct decision and facilitate changes in management such as stocking rate, alternative pasture access, adding supplementary feeding, etc. without deterioration of our pastoral’s system. On the other hand, supplementary feeding may be necessary to cover the nutrients requirements of grazing animals and to maintain them during the dry season (Pimentel et al., 2011 and Askar et al., 2014). It decreases the grazing time and the associated energy cost for grazing activity (Beker et al., 2009). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of grazing activity and supplementary feeding on energy utilization by Shami goats under different production system settings.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was carried out in the Ras Surd region at the South Sinai research station of the Desert Research Center, some 200 km from Cairo, the capital of Egypt. It is considered a desert area. There is practically no rainfall during the year. However, the average annual temperature is 22.2 °C, while the average rainfall is 15 mm/ year, most of the precipitation falls in January, averaging 3 mm.

Animals and treatments:

Thirty adult non-productive female Shami goats were employed in a 60-day experiment to study the effect of grazing activity and supplementary feeding on energy expenditure (EE) and balance (EB). Goats were divided into three treatments, 10 per each. Animals were grazing a limited area of alfalfa with (GS) or without (G) a limited concentrate supplement, while animals in control treatment were in confinement (in-door, I) in which the same amount of supplement was given with alfalfa hay depending on their recommended requirements. The concentrate feed mixture, as a supplementary feeding, was given to cover approximately 50% of MEm.

Experimental procedures:

The experiment started in August and lasted for 60 days (during the dry season), followed by a 2-week period for the measurements of feed intake, digestibility and energy utilization. Concentrate supplement were given in the morning (before grazing for GS group). Water was available free choice twice daily, at 08:00 and 14:00 h.

Intake and digestibility: The internal marker technique was used to estimate the individual intake and digestibility for 6 animals per each treatment in which bags was used for total fecal collection.

Energy expenditure:

The calorimetry system and its usage were described previously by Askar (2016) in which the same six animals per treatment were fitted with a face mask facilitating open-circuit respiratory system for measuring O2 consumption (Sable Systems, Las Vegas, NV). Heart rate (HR) was simultaneously measured to determine the individual energy expenditure (EE)/HR ratio. Energy expenditure was estimated assuming a constant thermal equivalent of 20.47 kJ per liter O2. Human S610 HR (Polar, Lake Success, NY) monitors with infrared connections to the transmitters were used to collect HR data at a 1-min interval. Heart rate data were analyzed using Polar Precision Performance SW software provided by Polar. Heart rate was measured, for each animal, while they were grazing for at least 48 h. The daily HR and EE were determined from the EE: HR ratio for each animal. Furthermore, Gross energy (GE) of feed, orts and feces were measured by bomb calorimeter (IKA, model C 200, Staufen, Germany), using benzoic acid as standard. Metabolizable energy (ME) was estimated as 82% of digestible energy (DE) intake (NRC, 2007). Recovered energy (RE) was calculated as the difference between ME intake (MEI) and total EE.

Statistical analyses:

Data were analyzed by the GLM procedure of the SAS statistical package (SAS, 2000) in which the effect of treatment was considered (one way analysis of variance). The least significant difference (LSD) was used to compare the means, and differences with P< 0.05 were accepted as statistically significant.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Energy intake and digestibility:

Although a similar GE (kJ/kg MBW) intake between animals in confinement (I) and those in grazing (GS) groups, animals in GS group had a greater DE (kJ/kg MBM and %) than those in confinement (Table 1).

Grazing animals were reported to have higher intake and digestibility than those in confinement (Askar et al., 2013 and 2014). On the other hand, Supplementary feeding increased the intake and digestibility for grazed animals. Concentrate supplement was reported to increase intake and utilization as a result of increasing dry matter digestibility (Gekara et al., 2005 and Askar et al., 2014). It was expected that adding concentrate supplement might reduce the forage intake (Garcés-Yépez et al., 1997) but in the current study the forage intake was similar for animals grazing with or without supplementation. The effect of concentrate supplement on forage intake varied depending on the forage quality and the supplement composition (Moore et al., 1999). In agreement with the current findings, it was reported that supplementation did not affect forage intake when the forage quality was high (Smith et al., 2006), while it had a positive effect on the intake of the low quality forage (Kartchner, 1980).

Energy expenditure and balance:

Heart rate and EE were significantly (P< 0.001) greater for grazing vs. in-door treatments. These values of energy loss are much greater for G vs. GS in which a lower HR and EE were observed for animals grazing with vs. without concentrate supplement (Table 2). In addition, Figure (1) showed the effect of grazing activity and supplementary feeding on EE throughout the 24 hours of the day that supported the findings reported in Table (2). Grazing activity was expected to increase the energy requirements for grazing animals compared to those in the confinement (Brosh et al., 2006).

Effect of Grazing Activity and Supplementary Feeding on Energy Utilization by Goats - Image 2

On the other hand, the relation between EE and ME intake shows that indoor (I) and supplemented grazing animals (GS) are in a better state with a lower EE/MEI ratio than those grazing without supplementation (G) (EE = 87 and 86 vs. 144% of ME intake, respectively). This is reflected on the EB that was similar and positive for control and supplemented grazing animals, while a negative EB was observed for grazing animals without supplementation. This indicates that concentrate supplement is necessary to maintain grazing animals without deterioration as suggested by Askar et al. (2014). Supplementary feeding may cover part of the energy requirements for grazing animals which was expected to reduce the grazing time and the associated energy cost for grazing activity (Beker et al., 2009).

CONCLUSIONS

Grazing animals have higher energy intake and digestibility than those in the confinement and concentrate supplement improved the forage utilization for grazed animals. Grazing activity has a significant effect on the energy expenditure and requirements, while supplementary feeding is essential to maintain grazing animals without deterioration under the experimental condition.

This article was originally published in Egyptian J. Nutrition and Feeds (2019), 22(2) Special Issue: 39-43.

References

AOAC (2007). Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Official Methods of analysis, 19th Edition,
Washington, USA.
Abd El-Rahman, H. H. (2008). Improvement of the nutritive value of some unpalatable desert plants by ensiling treatment with palatable plants and molasses additives. J. Agric. Sci. Mansoura Univ. (33):
8001– 8010.
Abdel-Ghani, A. A. ; G. M. A. Solouma; A. K. I. Abd-Elmoty; Kassab, A. Y. and E. B. Soliman (2011).
Productive performance and blood metabolıtes as affected by protected protein in sheep. Open J.
Anim. Sci., (1):24–32.
Abdou.Ahlam R.; E.Y. Eid; A. M. El-Essawy; A.M. Fayed; H.G. Helal and H.M. El Shaer (2011). Effect of Feeding Different Sources of Energy on Performance of Goats Fed Saltbush in Sinai Journal of
American Science., 7(1): 1040-1050.
Abdu l-Aziz, G. M.; A. S. Shalaby; A. M. Abd El Gawad; H. M. El Shaer and A. A. Fahmy (2001).
Carcass quality of fattened sheep fed halophytic silage with non -conventional energy supplements in
Egypt. In : Rubin OR. (ed.), Moran d-Fehr P. (ed.). Production systems and product quality in sheep and goats . Zaragoza : p. 35-39
Abdul-Waheed, A. B. and N. T. Daniel (2013). Haematologicaland Biochemical Profile of Growing
Yankassa Rams Fed Sorghum Stover Supplemented with Graded Levels of Dried Poultry Droppings
Based Diets. Pakistan Journal of Biological Science,16 (24):1922-1928.
Abou El Nasr, H. M.; H. M. Kandil; A. El Kerdawy; H. S. Dawlat, Khamis and H. M. El Shaer (1996).
Value of processed saltbush and acacia shrubs as sheep fodders under the arid conditions of Egypt.
Small Rumin. Res., (24)15–20.
Abu-Zanat, M. M. W. (2005). Voluntary intake and digestibility of saltbush by sheep. Asian Austr. J.
Anim. Sci., 18(2): 214-220.
Al Khalasi, S. S.; O. Mahgoub; I. T.; Kadim; W. Al-Marzouqi and S. Al-Rawahi (2010). Health and performance of Omani sheep fed salt-tolerant sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) forage or Rhodes grass (Chlorisgayana). Small Ruminant Research, (91):93–102.
Alhadrami, G. A. and A. J. Dakheel (2005). Effect of feeding long term Sporobolus grass hay on growth performance of Awassi sheep. In: Proc. 6thAnnual UAE University Research Conference, (3) 55.
Amuda, A. J. and D. O. Okunlola (2018). Haematological Parameters and Serum Biochemistry of West
African Dwarf Sheep Fed Ensiled Maize Stover and Concentrate Supplements. Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 11(5):57-63.
Anon. (2009). Introduction of salt-tolerant forage production systems to salt-affected lands in Sinai
Peninsula in Egypt: a pilot demonstration Attia-Ismail, S. A. (2015). Nutritional and feed value of halophytes and salt tolerant plants. In: El Shaer and Squires, (Eds). Halophytic and Salt Tolerant Feedstuffs: Impacts on Nutrition, Physiology and
Reproduction of Livestock. 126: Vol. 106. 2015. CRC Press; New York.
Ben Salem, H.; H. C. A., Nefzaoui; D. E.; K. L. Mayberry, Pearce and D. K. Revell, (2010). Potential use of oldman salt bush (Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) in sheep and goats feeding. Small Ruminant
Research, (91):13-28.
Bhatti, J. A.; M. Younas; M. Abdullah; M. E. Babar and D, H. Nawaz (2009). Feed intake, weight gain and Hematology in Nili-Ravi bufflo heifers fed on mott grass and berseem fodder substituted with salibush (Atriplex Ammivola). Pakistan Vet. J., 29(3): 133-137.
De Brbander, D. L.; J. L. De Boever; A. M. De Smet; J. M. Vanacker and C. V. Boucque (1999).
Evaluation of the physical structure of fodder beets, potatoes, pressed beet pulp, brewers grains and corn silage. J. Dairy Sci., 82(1):110-121.
Duncan, D.B. (1955). Multiple range and multiple F- test. Biometris; 11:
Eid, E. Y. A. (2003). Feed utilization and performance of animals fed the natural and cultivated fodder shrubs in Sinai. Ph. D Thesis, Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., Egypt.
El-Bassiony, M. F. (2016). Impact of increasing twining rate in Barki ewes on milk yield, milk composition and lambs performance up to weaning. Australian J. of Basic and Applied Sci., 10(18):
365-376.
El-Essawy, A. M.; E.Y. Eid; A. M. Fayed; A. R. Abdou; H.G. Helal and H.M. El-Shaer (2011). Influence of feeding foder beet with different forage as nitrogen sources under saline conditions on Barki rams performance in Southern Sinai. Egyptian J. Nutrition and Feeds, 14 (2): 191-205.
El-Far, A. H.; E.K. Bazh and M. S. Moharam (2014). Antioxidant and Antinematodal Effects of Nigella
Sativa and Zingiber Officinale Supplementations in Ewes. Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 26(1): 222-
227.
EL-Gohary, E. S. H.; M. M. Fathala; M. A. H. El-Rayes; R. M. Abou-Aiana and M. M. Eissa (2017).
Effect of Using Tanniniferous Plants Shrubs in Feeding Barki Ewes on some Productive and
Physiological Parameters. J. Animal and Poultry Prod., Mansoura Univ., 8 (12): 467- 476.
El Shaer, H. M. (2004). Potentiality of halophytes as animal fodder under arid conditions of Egypt.
Rangeland and Pasture Rehabilitation in Mediterranean Areas. Cahiers Options Méditerranéennes 62,
369–374.
El Shaer, H. M. (2010). Halophytes and salt tolerant plants as potential forage for ruminants in the Near
East region. Small Ruminant Research, 91(1): 3-12.
El-Shaer H. M.; F. T. Ali; N. Y.S. Morcos; S.S. Emam and A. M. El- Essawy (2005). Seasonal changes of some anti-nutritional factors contents of some halophytic shrubs and the effect of processing treatments on their utilization by sheep under desert conditions of Egypt. Egyptian J. Nutrition and feeds, 8 (1):417-431.
El-Shesheny, M.A.; S.H. Hendawy; and K.M. Ahmed (2014). Assessment of productivity, botanical composition and nutritive value of some plant communities at Sidi-Barrani in North Western Coast of
Egypt. Annals of Agricultural Science, 59(2): 155–163.
Fayed, Afaf M. (2009). In vitro and In vivo Evaluation of Biological Treated Salt Plants. AmericanEurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 6 (1): 108-118.
Fayed, A. M.; A. M. El-Essawy; E. Y. Eid; H. G. Helal; A. R. Abdou and H. M. El Shaer (2010).
Utilization of berseem and Atriplex nummularia for feeding sheep under saline conditions of South
Sinai, Egypt. Journal of American Science, 6(12):1447-1461.
Gabr, M.G. (2002). First experience of Matrouh Resource Management Project in salt bush utilization for animal feeding. Int’l Symp. Optimum Utilization in Salt Affected Ecosystems in Arid and Semi-Arid
Regions, Cairo, Egypt, April 8–11, pp. 419–425.
Gabra, M. A. and S. M. Gad (1999). Physical characteristics and feeding values of roots of some fodder beet varieties (Beta Vulgaris l.) with references to chopping size. J. Agric. Mansoura Univ.,
24:4881:389.Ghandour, M. M. A.; A. M. Fayed; G. M. Abdul-Aziz and M.A. Hanafy (2014). Effect of Using
Polyethylene Glycol or Sodium Bentonite on Performance of Sheep Fed Acacia saligna. World
Applied Sciences Journal, 32 (11): 2309-2316.
Hanafy, M. A.; A. A. Fahmy; M. S. Farghaly and A. El Shrerf (2007). Effect of using some fodder plants in diets on goats performance under desert conditions of Sinai. Egypt. J. Nutr. and Feeds, 10(1): 151-
163.
Hassan, A. A. (2009). Effect of some enrichment and biological treatments on ameliortation utilization of
Atriplex nummularia fed by sheep. Egyptian J. Nutrition and feeds. 12, (3):553- 566.
Helal, H. G.; A. R. Abdou; E.Y. Eid; A. M. El-Essawy; A. M. Fayed and H. M. El Shaer (2012).
Nutritional studies on sheep saltbush supplemented with different desert energy sources under slain conditions in southern Sinai. Egypt. J. Nutr. and Feeds, 15(1): 49-61.
Helal, H. G.; S. Abo Bakr; E. Y Eid and H.M. El Shaer (2018a). Productive performance of Barki ewes fed halophytes added with Propionibacteria freudenreichii under saline conditions. Res. J. Anim. and
Vet. Sci., 10 (2):18-27.
Helal, H. G.; E.Y. Eid; M. S. Nassar; H. S. Badawy and H. M. El Shaer (2018b). Comparative nutritional studies of ewes and does fed salt tolerant plants under desert condition. Nature and Science, 16(6)62-
77.
Heuze, V.; G.Tran; and D. Sauvant (2015). Fodder beet roots. Feedipedia, a programme by INRA,
CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. Htts://www. feedipedia.org/node/534.
Ibrahim, N. H.; A. S. El-Hawy; M. F. El-Bassiony; F. E. Younis and Abo S. Bakr (2018). Effect of
Feeding Salt Tolerant Plants Silage on Productive Performance and Biochemical Changes of Barki
Ewes and their Lambs during the First Month Post-Partum. J. Anim. and Poultry Prod., Mansoura
Univ., 9 (8): 337 – 344.
Kearl, L. C. (1982). Nutrients requirements in developing countries. International Feedstuffs Institute
Utah Agric. Exp. Stat.; Utah State University, Logan; USA.
Mansour, A. M. and Hoda Al-Zahar (2018). Feeding fodder beet roots supplemented with urea for lactating buffalo, Egypt. J. Nutr. and Feeds, 21(1): 1-13.
Masters, D.G.; D. E. Mayberry, and P.E. Vercoe (2009). Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia L.) reduces efficiency of rumen fermentation in sheep. Options Méditerranéennes, A/no. 85. Nutritional and foraging ecology of sheep and goats.
McDonald, P, R. A.; Edwards; J. D. F. Greenhalgh and C.A. Morgan (2002). Animal Nutrition. Sixth
Edition. Pretice Hall. Gosport,London, 543 p.
Orskov, E. R. and Ryle. (1990). Energy Nutrition in Ruminant. Elsevier Application. Jhon Willey and
Sons, New York. Owen, F.N. and J. A.
Pearce, K.L.; H.C. Norman and D. L. Hopkins (2010). The role of saltbush-based pasture systems for the production of high quality sheep and goat meat. Small Ruminant Research,(91): 29–38.
SAS Institute, (2004). Statistical Analysis System; STAT/ user’s guide; Release 9.1; SAS Institute; Cary
NC. USA.
Shaker, Y. M.; N. H., Ibrahim; F. E. Younis and H. M. El Shaer (2014). Effect of Feeding Some Salt
Tolerant Fodder Shrubs Mixtureon Physiological Performance of Shami Goatsin Southern Sinai,
Egypt Journal of American Science10(2s).66-77.
Squires, V.R. and , H. M. El Shaer (2016). Global distribution and abundance of sources of halophytic and salt tolerant feedstuffs. pp3-20. In: V.R. Squires and H.M. El Shaer Halophytic and salt-tolerant feedstuffs: Impacts on nutrition, physiology and reproduction of livestock. CRC Press. pp415.
Suharti, S.; A. R., Nasution Nuraliyah and , N. Hidayah (2015). The potential of canola and flaxseed oil protected by calcium soap for optimizing in vitro rumen microbial fermentation of beef cattle. Pros
Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon, (1):89-92.
Warner, A.C.I. (1964). Production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen, Method of measurement. Nutr.
Abstract and Review, 34: 339.Youssef, K. M. (1999). Improving the palatability and nutritive value of some range plants for goat feeding in Sinia. Ph.D. Thesis. Fac. of Agric. Ain Shams Univ., Egypt.

Communities in English

Communities in Spanish

Communities in Portuguese

Effect of Grazing Activity and Supplementary Feeding on Energy Utilization by Goats

References

Products From Rendering

Actisaf® Sc 47 HR+