Consumo de sorgo negro forrajero (Sorghum almum) en cabras.

During the period of May to December of 2002, in theExperimental Station Alfredo Volio Mata of the University ofCosta Rica, located to an altitude of 1542 elev. and with anaverage annual rainfall of 2050 mm, black sorghum intakewas evaluated in nine La Mancha goats with an average bodyweight of 39 (±2) kg, distributed in a Latin square design 3 x3 repeated. The experimental treatments were the differentages of the forage that is: a) 56, b) 70 and c) 84 days of regrowth.The forage was given in a chopped form (stems andleaves). Each animal received a ration of 5 kg/day. Samplesof offered and rejected material were gathered to analyze drymatter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber content.Highly significant differences were observed (P<0,01) forfresh forage, dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergentfiber intake by goats according to age of growth. Dry matterintake for the different treatments did not reach the levelsreported in the literature and they were near 1% of bodyweight. Due to the low dry matter intake, crude proteinintake was also low and goats did not fill maintenancerequirements.Durante el periódo de mayo a diciembre del2002, en la Estación Experimental Alfredo Volio Mata de laUniversidad de Costa Rica, ubicada a una altitud de 1542msnm y con una precipitación media anual de 2.050 mm, seevaluó el consumo de sorgo negro forrajero en nueve cabrasraza La Mancha, con un peso promedio de 39 (±2) kg, distribuidasen un diseño de cuadrado latino 3 x 3 repetido. Lostratamientos experimentales fueron las diferentes edades delforraje a saber: a) 56, b) 70 y c) 84 días de rebrote. El forrajese suministró en forma picada (tallos y hojas). Cada animalrecibió una ración de 5 kg/día. Se recolectaron muestrasdel material ofrecido y rechazado para el análisis de materiaseca, proteína cruda y fibra neutro detergente. Se observarondiferencias altamente significativas (P