Recent developments in goat nutrition and application: A review

This paper analyses the progress in recent research in goat nutrition since the last International Conference on Goats (Tours, 2000). This review reveals clear progress in the quality of papers, now similar to those on cattle or sheep, particularly on nutritional aspects in tropical areas. Topics dealt with in goat nutrition are feeding behaviour, particularly on pastures or rangelands, feed digestibility, tree leaf or by-product utilization, effects of nutritional factors on growth, milk and hair production, while nutritional adaptation to harsh environments, underfeeding, factors influencing energy consumption, quality of goat products (milk, cheese, meat) and reproduction performance along with the connection between nutrition and pathology require more attention. Goat nutrition in a tropical environment follows the same physiological mechanisms as under temperate conditions, but genotypes can present specificities enabling a better adaptation to feeding conditions. Complete and precise information on the nutritive value of tropical forage, rangeland vegetation in accordance with the season, and new feed or by-products is still missing. Researchers in goat nutrition frequently use different methods, making it difficult to compare results from several research teams. Agreement on the methodology in goat nutrition is easier when the research teams are organized in networks at the national or international level. To be successful with technological transfer in goat nutrition, the message for the end users must be clear and well adapted. At the present time, we are short of review papers that provide an analysis of all results already published to establish quantitative relationships between variables, which can clarify the messages for the field. Methods of meta-analysis can be used to analyse the quantitative results from experimental data banks and to establish response laws and define limits of application. Finally, if we implement a research project on goat nutrition dedicated to application in the field, not only the research works but also the actions of technological transfer must be financed.