Performance Of Kiko Wethers And Katahdin Rams Co-Stocked In Woodlands With Diverse Vegetation

Abstract Small ruminant production in the southeast United States is mainly pasture based and most of the producers are small scale. Woodland grazing is becoming familiar with the producers and can serve as an alternative grazing system in the Southeast. Some literature is available on the performance of matured goats and sheep stocked separately in woodlands. However, information is lacking on the performance of goats and sheep when co-grazed in woodlands. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of Kiko wethers and Katahdin rams co-stocked in woodlands. Eight Kiko wethers and five Katahdin rams (both mature) were co-stocked rotationally in three woodland plots (1-acre each) from mid-May to mid-October 2019. Each study plot had four different virtual sections with average vegetation-canopy height of 2.7 feet, 4.4 feet, 5.5 feet, and 5.7 feet (treatments) at the beginning of the study. Animals were stocked together in each plot and moved to the next plot when 50% of the available vegetation within animal’s reach was consumed. Animal performance data on live weight, body condition score (BCS) and FAMACHA score were collected before stocking animals in the study plots and every 14 days thereafter. Animal performance data were analyzed using GLM procedure with MANOVA options in SAS 9.4. Results showed that live weight of Kiko wethers ranged (163±5.9 - 177±5.9) lbs., body condition score ranged (2.4±0.09 - 3.4±0.09) and FAMACHA score ranged (2.0±0.08 - 2.4±0.08). Katahdin rams maintained live weight between (199±11.6 - 211±11.6) lbs., body condition score between (2.7±0.09 - 3.7±0.09) and FAMACH score between (1.8±0.12 - 2.2±0.12). BCS and FAMACHA score were in the normal range for grazing goats and sheep. Both animal species maintained satisfactory live weight, BSC and FAMACHA score in woodlands when co-stocked. Further study is needed to determine the performance of animals in higher nutritional demand.