Productivity of Australian Cashmere Goats Grazing Pangola Grass Pastures and Supplemented with Untreated and Formaldehyde Treated Protein Meals

The liveweight change and fleece growth of Australian cashmere goats were studied in a 14 week grazing experiment (Mar.-June) in south-eastern Queensland. Weaner goats grazed nitro-fertiìised Pangola grass (Digitarla decumbens Stent.) pastures and were supplemented every second day with a range of protein meals (60 g crude protein/goat.day), either untreated or formaldehyde treated. Following high growth rates (> 90 g liveweight.day) by all kids early in the experiment, control animals experienced severe weight loss (‒40 g/day). Goats given protein supplements performed significantly (P 0.05) in liveweight change between the untreated and formaldehyde treated protein groups. The poor growth of goats in this study was associated with declining feed availability under the high stocking rates used (80 goats/ha) and possibly with a seasonal depression in appetite. Total fleece growth was significantly (