POTENTIAL OF DOLICHOS-LABLAB (LABLAB-PURPUREUS) AND ACACIA-TORTILIS PODS IN SMALLHOLDER GOAT KID FEEDING SYSTEMS IN SEMIARID AREAS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

Two feeding trials of 112 and 84 days duration were conducted with ind igenous goat kids with average liveweight of 11.5 +/- 0.3 kg to evalua te the potential of dolichos lablab and Acacia tortilis pods in mitiga ting liveweight losses and improving survival, In Trial 1, the kids we re offered 200-300 g day(-1) of dolichos lablab or luceme hay, while i n Trial 2 they were offered 300-400 g day(-1) of Acacia tortilis pods or dolichos lablab hay, Weight gains, though low (31 g day(-1) for luc eme and 23 g day(-1) for dolichos lablab), were positive and there was no mortality. In Trial 2, A. tortilis pods resulted in growth rates o f up to 67 g day(-1). It is concluded that A. tortilis pods are a suit able supplement in a feeding system where kids are penned for most of the day and only released in the afternoon to graze near the home.