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<p>Xerophytic thickets play an essential role as grazing areas supporting goat herds and local livelihoods in southwestern Madagascar. This research assessed forage consumption and dietary preferences of goats to understand ecological–livestock interactions in these delicate ecosystems. The study was conducted at two different sites—a coastal zone (Soalara-Sud; SS) and a limestone plateau (Andranohinaly; AND)—during both rainy and dry seasons. Methods included forage accessibility plots, continuous bite monitoring, and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to analyze chemical composition. Goat diets displayed high species richness (163 species) but were mainly made up of about ten key species each season. Plateau herds kept mixed herbaceous–woody diets, whereas coastal goat herds preferred shrubs and trees. Overall, daily feed intake of AND goats was highest in the rainy season and shifted toward the early dry season at SS. Two species were especially favored: <i>Heteropogon contortus</i> (AND) and <i>Solanum bumeliifolium</i> (SS). Nutritional quality was strongly affected (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) by plant species, season, and functional group (herbaceous vs. shrubs/trees), with geographical location showing little effect (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). The most impacted nutritional variables included dry matter digestibility, ash, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein, and fat, while metabolizable energy and acid detergent fiber had a moderate effect. Forage quality was highest during the dry season at AND but peaked in the rainy season at SS. According to RGCCA, forage selectivity was the primary factor influencing feeding behavior, with goats displaying adaptive strategies to seasonal forage limitations. These results highlight (i) considerable seasonal flexibility in diets despite minimal site differences, (ii) nutritional trade-offs driven by digestibility, fiber, and energy constraints, and (iii) the vital ecological role of key shrubs as nutritional buffers. Overall, these findings stress the importance of integrated ecological–nutritional–spatiotemporal approaches for sustainably managing xerophytic grazing systems.</p>

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Diet selection and forage nutritional quality of goats in the xerophytic thickets of Southwestern Madagascar

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月26日

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  • Mbolatiana Fiononantsoa Ranaivoharivelo,
  • Isabelle Herisoa Hantanirina,
  • Josoa Ramarolanonana Randriamalala,
  • Arsène Jules Mbolatianarizao Randrianariveloseheno,
  • Nicolas Jungblut,
  • Simon Leclerq,
  • Olivia Lovanirina Rakotondrasoa,
  • Jérôme Bindelle

摘要

Xerophytic thickets play an essential role as grazing areas supporting goat herds and local livelihoods in southwestern Madagascar. This research assessed forage consumption and dietary preferences of goats to understand ecological–livestock interactions in these delicate ecosystems. The study was conducted at two different sites—a coastal zone (Soalara-Sud; SS) and a limestone plateau (Andranohinaly; AND)—during both rainy and dry seasons. Methods included forage accessibility plots, continuous bite monitoring, and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to analyze chemical composition. Goat diets displayed high species richness (163 species) but were mainly made up of about ten key species each season. Plateau herds kept mixed herbaceous–woody diets, whereas coastal goat herds preferred shrubs and trees. Overall, daily feed intake of AND goats was highest in the rainy season and shifted toward the early dry season at SS. Two species were especially favored: Heteropogon contortus (AND) and Solanum bumeliifolium (SS). Nutritional quality was strongly affected (p < 0.001) by plant species, season, and functional group (herbaceous vs. shrubs/trees), with geographical location showing little effect (p > 0.05). The most impacted nutritional variables included dry matter digestibility, ash, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein, and fat, while metabolizable energy and acid detergent fiber had a moderate effect. Forage quality was highest during the dry season at AND but peaked in the rainy season at SS. According to RGCCA, forage selectivity was the primary factor influencing feeding behavior, with goats displaying adaptive strategies to seasonal forage limitations. These results highlight (i) considerable seasonal flexibility in diets despite minimal site differences, (ii) nutritional trade-offs driven by digestibility, fiber, and energy constraints, and (iii) the vital ecological role of key shrubs as nutritional buffers. Overall, these findings stress the importance of integrated ecological–nutritional–spatiotemporal approaches for sustainably managing xerophytic grazing systems.