Murciano-Granadina goat nutrition including local feed resources

Abstract

The Murciano-Granadina goat represents about 30% of dairy goats in Spain. This breed is widely spread around Europe, America and Africa due to its ability to adapt to difficult environments and its high milk production as well. Adequate feeding is the basis for the development of animal production and requires a good knowledge of both nutrient and energy requirements of a particular breed and the nutritive value of available feedstuffs. Information on nutrient and energy requirements of Murciano-Granadina goat has been generated in recent decades. Information on the nutritive value of conventional and unconventional local foods has been provided in the past decades. The use of unconventional foods could be useful to decrease feeding cost and overcome other limits in animal production. Unconventional feedstuffs may have added value as well improving the composition of milk, especially fatty acid profile, and decreasing methane emissions. The proper use of by-products, many of them with high water content, requires implementing technologies for conservation. The response of animals to local feeds in arid and semi-arid regions could be influenced by the animal's experience or degree of specialization/adaptation to a particular ecological niche.