Relative preference for, palatability and intake of Stylosanthes scabra accessions adapted in Pretoria

Abstract

Inadequate supply and quality of forage, particularly dur-ing the dry season, is a major constraint to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa (Anele et al. 2011), in-cluding South Africa. Poor management of the available feeds, seasonal variability in weather and climate change contribute to the high fluctuation of forage quality and quantity between seasons and years (Sultan et al. 2008). To improve livestock production, there is a need to improve both quantity and quality of available feed through the use of alternative forage crops. Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca has been evaluated for dry season feed supplementation, and was found to be adapted to and productive in the subtropical climate of Gauteng Province (Mpanza et al. 2013). The objective of this study was to determine the preference for, and palatability and intake of forage from 5 different Stylosanthes scabra ac-cessions offered to Saanen goats.