Digestive Physio and Biology of goats

Question 1

What is unique to goats? (5)

Answer 1

1. Easily and well-adapted- they naturally choose the high qualtity part of the plants- so they can be kept in poor pastures
2. DMI: 1.5-5% of BW
3. Larger rumen relative to body size when comparing to cattle
4. Longer retention time of solid feed particles
5. Saliva- contains the highest amnt of urea among all Ru- this lessens the protein demand

Question 2

DMI its percentage and what this equates

Answer 2

1.5-5% of BW

Equates to 2.65 kg/DM of grass if lactating then 2.9-3.9 kg/DM of grass

Question 3

What does the larger relative rumen size mean?

Answer 3

It takes up 80% of the stomach area and means that there is better fiber digestion

Question 4

What does the longer retetion time of feed particles mean

Answer 4

That more nutrients can be absorbed

Question 5

Mineral requirements and their amounts (4)

Answer 5

Ca: 18.8g/day

P: 8.7g/day

Cu: 10mg/day

Iodine: 0.3mg/day

Question 6

Vitamins to supplements

Answer 6

ADE

Question 7

How to measure the BCS

Answer 7

M. longissimus dorsi

Question 8

Brief summary of the timeline

Answer 8

Mating in the autumn

Pregnancy for 153 days (5 months)

Lactation for 8.5 mnths

Weaning at 60-90 days

Drying off for 3-5 mnths

Question 9

Yearly cycle

Answer 9

Cycle length is 1 yr: drying off doe 3.5 mnths and lactating for 8.5 mnths

Gestation: 153 days

Weaning age: 60-90 days

Question 10

Reproduction (6)

Answer 10

1. In Eu they are inseminated in the autumn
2. They lactae for 1.5 months after, from the previ pregnancy
3. Then they dry-off/stop lactating for 3.5 mnths
4. Give birth in the spring, then lactate for 8.5 mnths
5. Inseminated 7 mnths after the onset of lactation