Local Feed Formulation for Goats

Project Overview

OW10-322
Project Type: Professional + Producer
Funds awarded in 2010: $41,485.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2011
Region: Western
State: Guam
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Manuel Duguies
Email
Cooperative Extension Service

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Agronomic: grass (misc. perennial), hay
  • Animals: goats

Practices

  • Animal Production: feed/forage, feed formulation, feed rations, grazing management
  • Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
  • Production Systems: holistic management

    Proposal abstract:

    A major reason for the low production of goats on Guam is poor nutrition. Traditional grazing practices on unimproved pasture areas are the main goat husbandry method of production. It would take a young goat 12 to 15 months to reach 80 pounds live market weight.

    The research portion of this project is to process local feed materials for goat feeds. Feeding trials will be conducted among the collaborating farms. Improved grass varieties will be propagated and given out to ranchers.

    Workshops and publications (flyers and fact sheets) will be conducted and published.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    1. Establish formulated rations and feeding guidelines for young, growing and mature goats.

    2. Showcase the important role of improved nutrition on growth rate and production of goats.

    3. Educate goat producers on resourcefulness and dependence on local resources in their farm operations.

    4. Sustain goat production through local feed resources and better forage quality. Secure sources of protein through local resources, efforts and low-input technology.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.