EFFECT OF STOCKING RATE ON THE BOTANICAL COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIVE-VALUE OF DIETS SELECTED BY WEST-AFRICAN DWARF GOATS MAINTAINED ON RESEARCHER-MANAGED AND FARMER-MANAGED STYLO FODDER BANKS DURING THE CROPPINGSEASON IN CENTRAL NIGERIA

In a researcher-managed and farmer-managed trial an investigation was carried out on the effect of stocking rate on the botanical compositio n and nutritive value of diets selected by West African dwarf goats gr azed permanently on Stylosanthes hamata (stylo) fodder banks, during t he cropping season in Central Nigeria. The stocking rates for the rese archer-managed and farmer-managed were 29, 43 and 57 goats ha-1 and 22 -25, 42-43, 50-55 and 68-92 goats ha-1 respectively. Extrusa samples f rom eosophageally fistulated goats collected at various intervals of g razing were used to determine the selectivity index, botanical composi tion, nutritive quality of diet and dry matter disappearance from nylo n bags incubated in the rumen of cattle after 48 h. Results indicated that in both trials goats selected more stylo than grass. The proporti on of stylo in the diet increased with increase in stocking rate for t he researcher-managed trial while the relationship was quadratic for t he farmer-managed trial. In addition, rumen-degraded extrusa dry matte r had a quadratic relationship with time and stocking rate. Dietary ne utral detergent fibre content was not significantly influenced by time of grazing or stocking rate. Crude protein content decreased with inc rease in grazing time. The effect of stocking rate on dietary crude pr otein content was not significant despite differences between treatmen ts. Calcium and magnesium levels in the diets were sufficient to meet the requirements of goats.