DIETS OF THE PHILIPPINE INDIGENOUS SHEEP : ITS COMPARISON TO INDIGENOUS GOATS DIETS AND INFLUENCE OF SAMPLING METHODS

This study was conducted 1) to compare the nutrient content and mineral composition of the Philoppine indigenous sheep and goats diets when grazed in common pasture during rainy season, 2) to determine the influence of sampling methods on nutrient content and mineral composition of upland (UP) and lowland (LP) native pastures, and 3) to compare these two pasture types in terms of nutrient and mineral composition. Experiment 1 used sis esophageally fistulated animals, three each for sheep and goats. Weekly extrusa collection was done for a period of three months. Experiment 2 was conducted in UP and LP; these were sampled thrice by three methods, plucking, clipping and use of three esophageally fistulated sheep. Results of Experiment 1 indicated that the diets of sheep were greater in crude protein(CP; p < 0.01) and ether extract(EE; p < 0.05) but lower in crude fiber (CF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL; p < 0.05) than that of goat diets. All other nutrient fractions including mineral composition were not significantly different from each other. Significant findings of Experiment 2 were: CP content of UP was in the order fistulated > plucked > clipped (p < 0.05); CP content of LP was greater (p <0 .05) in fistulated and plucked samples; and ash content was greater (p < 0.05) in fistulated samples of both pastures. The CP of UP was different (p < 0.05) from each sampling method but the CP of LP and ADL of both pastures were greater (p < 0.05) in clipped samples. Most minerals either macro or microminerals were greater in fistulated samples of both pastures. Pooled data of the two pastures showed that LP had better nutrient characteristics and greater mineral composition. Based from this study, there were few differences between the diets of indigenous sheep and goats when grazed in common pasture. Also, sampling methods influenced the nutrient composition of indigenous sheep diets.