Variation in plant preferences of indigenous goats in a False Thornveld rangeland in South Africa

Plant preference of three goat genotypes; Xhosa lop-eared (XLE), Nguni (NGN) and Nguni x Boer crossbred (NBC) was studied using the micro-histological faecal analysis technique. Faecal samples were collected per rectum of goats in four seasons; hot-dry (September to October), hot-wet (November to February), cold-dry (June to August), and post-rainy season (March to May). Plant fragments were identified using a microscope at 400x magnification. Greater proportions (P<0.05) of A. karroo fragments were identified in faeces of the XLE goats in the hot-dry season compared to NGN and NBC goats. The NBC goats had a higher (P<0.05) proportion of Sporobolus africanus and S. fimbriatus in faeces compared to other genotypes. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found on the proportion of plant fragments identified in faeces of all goat genotypes during hot-wet season. The NBC goats had low (P < 0.05) proportions of plant fragments of Diospyros lycioides and Ehretia rigida identified in faeces and had a higher proportion of Sporobolus africanus in the cold-dry season compared to NGN and XLE goats. The XLE and NBC goat genotypes had higher proportions of S. fimbriatus and Panicum maximum plant fragments during the post-rainy season. Grewia occidentalis, P. maximum and D. lycioides had greater preference index values for all goat genotypes, compared to other plant species. The XLE goats selected more browse than herbaceous plant species compared to other genotypes. Xhosa lop-eared goats, therefore, show a potential to browse more than the NGN and NBC goats. Use of the XLE goats in mixed livestock system with livestock species perceived to be grazers on rangelands of the False Thornveld is recommended. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.