1.                Feeding systems & nutritive value of forages used on smallholder goat farms in Mauritius

A study was conducted to assess the feeding practices, types as well as nutritive value of forages and browse species commonly offered to stall fed goats on smallholder goat farms in Mauritius. The project was funded by the International Foundation for Science and was conducted over a twelve-month period on farms in different parts of the island to depict any agro-climatic and seasonal influence on the availability of different types of forages during the year.

Goat farmers generally collect fodder from waste lands or forest reserves in a pile which consists of a combination of different types of grasses and browse species, depending on availability and the preference of the goats. A total of 43 different species consisting of grasses, leguminous and non leguminous shrubby or creeping species are offered to goats as fodder. These fodder species vary widely in nutritive value and tannin content as well.

This study has provided material to improve on understanding of the range of species that can potentially be used as fodder for goats and their respective nutritional worth. Our database on fodder is now further consolidated. Information available can very well serve to develop suitable feeding strategies making more valuable use of locally available feed resources. Efficient nutritional management of local goats and ruminants at large should help a lot to render the small scale farming more sustainable.

For more information contact: bdu@areu.mu