The application of forage densification technologies to feeding systems for small ruminant production in the Caribbean : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, Manawatū, New Zealand

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dc.confidentialEmbargo : Noen_US
dc.contributor.advisorJack, Heidi
dc.contributor.authorJack, Heidi
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-15T03:25:31Z
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-20T21:59:07Z
dc.date.available2021-04-15T03:25:31Z
dc.date.available2021-07-20T21:59:07Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractDetermining the potential of densified forage as a prospective substitute to commercial feed in small ruminant production systems in the Caribbean is critical. This may lead to the development of more self-sufficient feeding systems which incorporate more locally available ingredients and reduce the dependence on imported commercial feeds. There is currently a lack of information on the use of, or effect of, densified forage on performance in regional small ruminant production. Additionally, information is limited on the nutritive value of prospective forages, to which these technologies can be applied. Therefore, the aims of the thesis were to 1) determine the nutritive value of a range of tropical forages in the Caribbean that are used in regional small ruminant production systems; 2) determine the effect of densified diets comprising different levels of forage on intake in growing lambs; and 3) determine the effect of densified diets comprising forage on growth performance and digestibility in lambs. The results of the thesis showed that there is a range of forages of varying nutritive value that can be used to develop more sustainable feed systems for small ruminants in the Caribbean. Further, the results of the thesis showed that when Trichanthera gigantea (an abundantly available forage) was densified and fed to growing lambs, it resulted in similar intakes, digestibility and growth performance in growing lambs to that of commercial concentrates. The findings of the research can be used as a platform for future studies on the application of densification technologies to feeding systems for small ruminants in the Caribbean.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/16526
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectSheepen
dc.subjectGoatsen
dc.subjectFeeding and feedsen
dc.subjectCaribbean Areaen
dc.subjectForage plantsen
dc.subjectPelleted feeden
dc.subject.anzsrc300303 Animal nutritionen
dc.titleThe application of forage densification technologies to feeding systems for small ruminant production in the Caribbean : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, Manawatū, New Zealanden_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorJack, Heidien_US
thesis.degree.disciplineAnimal Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_US
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