GRAZING FOURWING SALTBUSH WITH ANGORA GOATS

Results from a grazing trial during winter suggested that fourwing saltbush was a good source of nutrients for yearling Angora muttons. However, Angora weanlings were reluctant to feed on fourwing saltbush in a grazing trial during September-October, and weanling kids did not receive adequate nutrition from fourwing saltbush to maintain their weight during this period. Yearling Angora goats fed fresh, succulent spring growth of fourwing saltbush in a metabolism trial had a negative nitrogen balance (-1 g/day) and a daily total feed intake of only 29 g/kg metabolic body weight (mbw), whereas those fed saltbush and a concentrate had a positive nitrogen balance (+5 g/day) and a daily total feed intake of 52 g/kg mbw. We theorize that Angora weanlings may have to "learn" to feed on saltbush and that the nitrogen in fourwing saltbush forage in certain seasons may be rapdily hydrolized in the Angora goat rumen and lost as ammonia. Additional research is needed to determine the value of fourwing saltbush in Angora goat production systems.