Grazing Behaviour of Saanen and Toggenburg Goats in Sub-Humid Tropical Conditions of Kenya

Abstract

The behavior of 6 Toggenburg and 6 Saanen female goats, grazing on natural vegetation in a modified sub-humid tropical environment of Kenya, was studied during the dry (January and February) and wet (April and May) seasons in 1997. The two exotic breads grazed for 12 h daily. Observation on feeding, standing, lying and ruminating was done chronometrically at five minute intervals between 0600 and 1800 h. These grazing times were based on the current practice of small holder farmers. During the dry period, the average feeding standing, lying and ruminating time per 12 h period for Saanens was 5.63, 4.57, 1.80 and 1.50 h respectively while that for Toggenburgs was 7.26, 3.21, 1.53 and 1.96 h, respectively. In the wet (Green) season, the mean feeding, standing, lying and ruminating time per Saanen in both seasons. It was also observed that standing occurred more often in Saanens than the Toggenburgs in the dry season. During the wet period, Saanens ruminated significantly longer than the Toggenburgs. The health status of the animals was determined by analyzing the respiratory frequency, heart rate, rectal temperature, hemoglobin, erythrocytes and leucocytes of the experimental animals. All the clinical and physiological parameters were within the normal physiological range of healthy goats. It was concluded that differences in the grazing behavior of Saanens and Toggenburgs in the modified tropical environment of Kenya, do exist.