PREFERENCES OF ANGORA-GOATS FOR 8 SELECTIONS OF GRASSES USED FOR RECLAMATION OF GREAT-BASIN RANGELANDS

Mature Angora goats were pastured in plots supporting eight selections of grasses used for rangeland reclamation in the northern Great Basin . The objectives were to establish the relative preferences of goats f or these forages at two stages of phenology (late-boot and dormant) an d relate selective preferences to forage production and quality attrib utes. Numbers of each selection visited, total bites harvested, and pe rcent plant weight utilized characterized diets of goats. Forage attri butes included herbage production, CP, and IVOMD. Crested wheatgrass s elections (cultivars 'Nordan' and 'Hycrest II') were consistently rank ed as preferred forages at both stages of phenology, with the two rece iving 80+% of the grazing activity. Cultivars 'Magnar' and 'Trailhead' basin wildrye, 'Goldar' bluebunch wheatgrass, and 'Bozoisky' Russian wildrye were ranked as indifferently foraged upon, and a numbered sele ction (No. 9021076) of thick-spiked wheatgrass and the closely related cultivar 'Secar' Snake River wheatgrass ranked as avoided, Variation in herbage production among selections was significantly and positivel y correlated with visits to selections and total bites but not well en ough to be an accurate predictor of selectivity. Indices of forage qua lity (CP and IVOMD) were not significantly correlated with selectivity . Adequate livestock performance can probably be attained on the prefe rred and indifferently ranked forages through mid-summer without suppl ementation. The two thick-spiked wheatgrasses, No, 9021076 and 'Secar' Snake River wheatgrass, are not recommended as forages for Angora goa ts.