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Summary of full report
Nutrition and management
of goats in drought
by B. A. McGregor
December 2005
RIRDC Publication No 05/188 RIRDC Project No DAV 217A
Research objectives and general approach
This project revises and updates the interim manual produced in 2002 (DAV 202A). This work now completes the objectives of the project “Objective drought feeding guidelines for caprines” that was divided into three stages:
1. Production of an interim
technical manual and advisory bulletin on drought management of Australian
non-milch goats;
2. Review of water provision
and water quality needs for goats; and
3. Implement three of the
strategic actions recommended in the report DAV 202A namely:
Outcomes and implications
of review
This manual has identified
and developed information for the best practice of goats during drought.
Wherever possible reference has been made to original scientific data. Where relevant data is available for goats, the recommendations provided often differ to those provided for sheep. This project has enabled the first determination of critical live weights for goats. Where relevant data for goats is not available, the information is based on research undertaken with sheep.
The review has updated and revised the energy requirements for goats for maintenance and growth based on published and unpublished research with Australian goats. A number of useful existing and potential practices for improving the nutritional management and welfare of goats during drought have been identified. The impacts of cold and heat stress on the energy requirements of goats have been reviewed. Research on water requirements of goats has been included based on new Australian data. Welfare requirements of goats during drought have been briefly reviewed. New information on the role, impact and assessment of body condition scoring in goats has been included.
The manual could never claim to be exhaustive but represents a comprehensive amount of technical information pertaining to the drought management of Australian goats. The manual has identified a number of deficiencies in knowledge regarding best practice and welfare of goats during drought that should be rectified.
Recommendations
On the basis of the findings
the following recommendations are made:
1. That the manual be published
and made available to goat producers and advisory agencies.
2. That industry associations
are encourage to link their internet sites to the drought manual and advisory
bulletin on the RIRDC and DPI Victoria internet sites.
3. Investigate a number
of important areas impacting on drought management of goats.
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