Forage nutrition data from smallholder goat production systems in the Central Region of Malawi
Description
Forage samples (n = 136, 26 species) were collected between February 2020 and July 2021 across four villages in the Central Region of Malawi. Plants were chosen based on informal observation of goat foraging/browsing, or on farmer discussions and 30 minute observations of goat foraging/browsing within 4 m of tether points or, if not tethered, within the area they were foraging/browsing. Where possible, woody stems, dead/diseases material, and seeds were not selected during sampling. For grass sampling, leaves were clipped with blades and removed. Samples were identified to genus or species level by local academic botanists. Plants were classified as either 'herbaceous' (soft stemmed, such as grassed and forbs, n = 55) or browse (hard stemmed, such as trees, bushes, and shrubs, n = 76). The time of sampling was also classified as either wet season (November to April, n = 76) or dry season (May to October, n = 60). Samples were oven dried to a constant weight in Malawi, vacuum packed, and then shipped to Rothamsted Research, in the UK, where proximate analysis was performed. In preparation for that, samples were freeze-dried and ground to < 2mm. Ash and organic matter was determined by loss on ignition (0.5 g, 540°C, 6 h). Crude protein was determined by the Dumas method. Fibre fractions of neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, and modified acid detergent fibre were quantified using an ANKOM 200 Fiber Analyzer, in line with manufacturer instructions. Research was performed in accordance with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Ethics guidelines. The project was approved by the Animal Science Department LUANAR sub-Ethics Committee (approval no. ANS/2018/5) on August 16th 2019.
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The study was conducted in the Central Region of Malawi, across four villages approximately 20-25 km south of the capital city, Lilongwe. Annual rainfall is typically in the region of 800-1000 mm and the average annual temperature in the region of 23-25°C. However, there are strong seasonal variations in weather with little to no rainfall and temperatures in the low teens in the dry season. The study area was on lixisol, which is a heavily weathered clay soil with low nutrient levels. Forage samples (136 samples, 26 species) were collected between 02/2020 and 07/2021 in the Central Region of Malawi across four villages, covering 30 smallholders: Chinkhowe (n = 50, 7 farms), Kamchedzera (n = 23, 12 farms), Mazinga (n = 32, 6 farms), and Mkwinda (n = 31, 5 farms). Plants were chosen for sampling based on informal observation of goat foraging and browsing behaviour and on farmer discussions. Broadly, plant material came from within pens, near tethering points, or from grazing land. Samples from pens included the mixed grasses and forages provided by farmers to the goats. Samples near tethering points were taken within a 4 m radius and based on a 30-minute observation of what goats were grazing/browsing. Samples from grazing areas were also chosen based on 30-minute observations. To the greatest extent practicable, sampling excluded woody stems, clearly diseased or dead plant material, and seeds. Roots or any foreign material attached to the sample was removed and discarded. For grasses, leaf blades were clipped by hand to avoid contamination with soil or other material. Due to the seasonality of different plants and the temporal timescale of sampling, plants were at different growth stages at collection, though most leaf samples were fully developed. Each sample was identified to genus or species level and categorised as either ‘herbaceous’ (soft-stemmed plants such as grasses and forbs, n = 55) or ‘browse’ (hard-stemmed plants such as trees, bushes, and shrubs, n = 81). Collection location and date were recorded, and samples were classified as being collected in either the wet season (November to April, n = 76) or the dry season (May to October, n = 60). Samples were oven-dried to a constant weight in Malawi before being vacuum-packed and shipped to the UK where they were freeze-dried and ground to < 2 mm. Loss on ignition was conducted (0.5 g, 540°C, 6 h) to determine organic matter (OM) and subsequently ash content by mass difference. Crude protein (CP) was determined as 6.25x nitrogen content, as determined by the Dumas technique. Four fibre fractions were determined using an ANKOM 200 Fiber Analyzer: neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Hemicellulose was determined as NDF less ADF and cellulose as ADF less ADL.
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Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
BB/S014748/1