A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that Granadina goats are better suited than Nubian goats to utilize the forage resources of the Chihuahuan desert range. Diet composition (microhistological analysis of fecal samples) and selection relative to availability were investigated among nonpregnant, nonlactating adult Nubian (n = 6) and Granadina (n = 6) goats grazing rangeland during the rainy period. Granadina goats consumed more (P 0.05) shrubs (70.6 %) than Nubians (52.5 %). Atriplex canescens (Pursh.) Nut., Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., and Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coy. were more important (P > 0.05) forage species for Granadina than for Nubian goats. Forbs consumption was higher (39.1 %; P < 0.05) for Nubians compared with Granadinas (27.7 %). Grass consumption was 8.4% and 1.7% for Nubian and Granadina goats, respectively (P < 0.01). In general, both breeds showed the greatest preference for shrubs and forbs. The diet overlap between breeds was moderate (similarity index = 68). The evidence of this study suggests that in the Chihuahuan desert range, Granadina goats were folivorous (browsers) and rarely grazed in the rainy season, whereas Nubians diversify their diet utilizing a variety of forage classes. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.