Environmental Factors Affect Nutrient Requirements For Goats

1. Environmental Factors Affect Nutrient Requirements For Goats An Peischel Small Ruminant Specialist (Goats) Cooperative Extension Service Tennessee State University and University of Tennessee Phone: 615-963-5539

2. the GOAT • Environmentally Adaptive • Extremely Opportunistic • Food Security • Biological Land Enhancement • Value-Added Products • Alternative Enterprise

3. Ecosystem Foundation Blocks • Succession • Change and development • Complex, stable communities • Competition, interdependence and adaptation • Water Cycle • Maximum use of rainfall • Minimize erosion • Percolation / infiltration

4. Ecosystem Foundation Blocks • Mineral Cycle • Effective cyclic pattern • Biological soil – atmospheric interaction • Continuous decomposing plant & animal residues • Energy Flow • Carbon cycle • Keeps all processes of life functioning • Solar power • All living things depend upon plants to harvest (capture) energy from sun & convert it to a useable form

5. -INTER · RELATIONSHIPS-

6. the CONTINUUM • SOIL • PLANTS • ANIMALS • ATMOSPHERE

7. Healthy Soils • Drain and warm up quickly in spring • Aeration and permeability maintained • Store moisture for dry spells • Resist erosion and nutrient loss • Support  populations of microbes, earthworms, and other soil life which cycle nutrients and build humus • Do not require ever-increasing fertilizer rates to maintain high yields • Produce healthy,  quality forage crops • Ability to sustain vigorous root systems The condition of the soil is at least as important as its fertility

8. SOIL MINERAL DEFICIENCIES (Tennessee) • Copper (Cu) • Fragile bones • Low conception rate • Anemia Selenium (Se) White muscle disease Reproductive failure Zinc (Zn) Foot rot Compromised immune system

9. I II III IV GROWTH RATE (# / AC / DA) Dormant WEEKS OF GROWTH

10. Forage Quality & Goat Requirements PROTEIN Weanling Does in Early Lactation Yearling Dry and Early Pregnant Does J-M Luginbuhl

11. Forage Quality & Goat Requirements TDN Weanling Does in Early Lactation Yearling Dry & Early Pregnant Does J-M Luginbuhl

12. Energy Physiological Priorities Energy has the number one effect on reproduction • Basal metabolism • Activity • Growth • Energy reserves • Pregnancy • Lactation • Energy reserves (milk fat) • Estrus cycle / Initiation of pregnancy • Hormonal • Ovulation • Excess energy reserves

13. 35 30 T N C (%) 25 20 15 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept verbina goldenrod ironweed TNC – Lipids, Sugars, Starches, Pectins

14. Chemical composition of various plants browsed by goats (%)

15. Goat’s Eye • Young green leaves / stems 70 – 75% digestible 20% CP 24 – 30 hour turn over rate • Old green leaves 60 – 65% digestible 10% CP 50 hour turn over rate • Dead / brown leaves 45% digestible 6% CP 65 hour turn over rate • Mature stems 35% digestible 4% CP 72 hour turn over rate

16. Body Condition Score (BCS) BCS 2 BCS 7 Spinous processes not visible Frame not visible Sternum covered Hooks and pins rounded Flat between hooks Extremely thin Spine and ribs visible Sternum protruding Skin on bone “V” cavity at tailhead

17. Browsing Calendar(based on the goat)

18. Quantity • Residual • Dung and urine • Grass • Browse • Fertility • Moisture • Organic Matter Behavior Soil

19. Factors Affecting Rate of Improvement from Selection Heritability Genetic correlation Generation interval

20. Environmental Factors South Island of New Zealand

21. Environmental Factors

22. Nutrition • Energy and protein levels in balance to reflect stage of production • Vitamin and mineral requirements are being met • Environment / weather • Breed • Stage of production • Quality of diet • Age and sex of goats • Body weight and body condition • Activity and exercise

23. ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS • Heat and Cold • Weather (precipitation and humidity) • Nutrient density • Quality of feed on offer • Predation • Travel (activity) • Topography

24. DEGREE of STRESS(affected by) • Breed of small ruminant • Physiological state • Age / Body size / Sex • Nutritional status • Social dominance • Fight / flight distance

25. ECONOMIC LO$$ • Decreased reproductive performance of both males and females • Inability to maintain body condition score • Decreased growth rate of off-spring • Increased incidences of internal parasitism • Suppressed immune system

26. Maintain Thermal Balance • Thermal Radiation • Humidity • Air Movement • Contact Surfaces • Precipitation

27. Major Effects of THERMAL STRESSon Nutrient Requirements • Reduction in voluntary feed intake • Digestibility and energy metabolism lowered • Increased water consumption • Mineral requirements shift – K and Na • Forage quality decreases

28. Major Effects of THERMAL STRESSon Reproduction • Delayed puberty (male and female) • Lower semen quality • Conception rate lowered • Adverse effects on fetal growth • Decrease of birth weights and weaning weights • Increase in number of abortions

29. Management to Minimize Stress • Vegetation – browse, pasture, woodlands • Mineral(s) and sea kelp on offer • Nutrient deficiencies corrected • Health (disease prevention, foot problems controlled, internal parasites minimized) • Facilities / Fencing • Dogs – guardian / herding • Behavior • Water

30. Cooperative Extension Program Thank You