Original Articles

Factors influencing forage preference of bushbuck and boer goats for Subtropical Thicket plants

Published in: African Journal of Range & Forage Science
Volume 14 , issue 2 , 1997 , pages: 49–55

DOI: 10.1080/10220119.1997.9647920

Author(s): S.L. Haschick Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Republic of South Africa , G.I.H. Kerley Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Republic of South Africa

Keywords: Capra hircus , diet selection , Tragelaphus scriptus

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Abstract

Dietary preference of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) and boer goats (Capra hircus) was determined for sixteen Subtropical Thicket plant species using cafeteria style selection trials. Principal components analysis was used to identify major axes of variation in the chemical contents of the plants, and preference measures were correlated with these axes. Two principal axes were extracted that accounted for 64.8% of the variation. Boer goat preference measures were correlated with Axis I, which accounted for 43% of the total variance. Soluble ash and protein content showed strong positive loadings on this axis, while tannin and soluble carbohydrate content had strong negative loadings. Axis II accounted for 22% of the variation, with digestibility and dry matter digestibility having the strongest positive and negative associations with this axis, respectively. Bushbuck preference showed a stronger relationship with Axis II. Both species generally showed lower preference for spinescent plants, but only preference by boer goats was positively correlated with forage intake rates.

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