176 Costs for Supplementing Small Ruminants Under the Various Grazing-Based Production Systems

Abstract The supplementary feeding costs of small ruminants can be substantial when there is not much vegetation available for grazing or browsing. However, such have been reported well and the strategies to minimize them discussed enough. objective this study was quantify involved in supplementing under grazing-based production systems. Grazing studies were conducted from July October 2021 (88 d) woodlands with lactating Kiko does (17) along their young kids (33). Animals divided into two groups (1 & 2) randomly allocated three woodland plots each rotational stocking. Group 1 allowed rotationally graze nearby silvopasture 3-4 hours daily 2 supplemented ad lib. hay corn (0.5% metabolic wt.). Another December (70 involving 56 goats 18 Katahdin-St. Croix ewes. During study, foliage available, animals (ad lib.) live Cost amount used supplementation recorded. Data analyzed Excel descriptive statistics. In cost $0.13 per animal day, 86% accounted 14% corn. second grazing, $0.43 accounting 77% remaining Findings suggest that planted forages replace need purchased feed during forage-growing period. significantly high lean period forage production.