The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic feasibility of integrating Jamnapari goats into underutilized pasture lands under coconut cultivations managed by the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Naturally grown and improved pasture samples were collected from coconut estates in the intermediate zone of Sri Lanka. Samples were taken randomly using a quadrant, and analyzed for dry matter (DM) yield (kg/ha), crude protein (CP), and crude fiber (CF) contents. An economic feasibility analysis was carried out based on average DM yields and respective carrying capacities of pastures and related production and economics data. The mean DM yield of natural and improved pastures ranged from 2141 ± 193 kg/ha to 3314 ± 212 kg/ha and 4231 ± 407 kg/ha to 9152 ± 531 kg/ha, respectively. Accordingly, CP and CF of natural and improved pastures ranged from 6.3 ± 0.2% to 18.5 ± 0.2% and 30.0 ± 0.4% to 33 ± 0.3%, respectively. Estimated Jamnapari goat carrying capacities for natural and improved pastures were 8 heads/ha and 24 heads/ha, respectively, including does, kids, and a buck. At a 15% discount rate for 10 years, the net present value (NPV) for the coconut monoculture system was approximately 0.45 million rupees, and for integrated systems with natural and improved pastures, it was 1.4 and 4.7 million rupees, respectively. This study concluded that, when goats are integrated with improved and natural pastures rather than maintaining a monoculture, the economic feasibility and profitability will be higher.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the impact of early weaning of lambs at approximately seven weeks of age onto a herb-clover mix on the liveweight gain of lambs and their dams. Methods: In 2015, twin-born lambs that weighed a minimum of 16 kg (n = 134) were randomly allocated to one of three treatments: i) Early-weaned (58 days after the midpoint of lambing) onto an unrestricted allowance (>1,200 kg dry matter/ha) of herb-clover mix (HerbEW); ii) Lambs+dams unweaned onto an unrestricted allowance of herb-clover mix until conventional weaning (95 days after the midpoint of lambing) (HerbCW); iii) Lambs+dams unweaned onto an unrestricted allowance of grass-clover pasture until conventional weaning (GrassCW). In 2016, twin-born lambs that weighed a minimum of 16 kg (n = 170) were randomly allocated to one of four treatments: i), ii), iii) (similar to 2015) and iv) Lambs+dams unweaned onto a restricted allowance (<1,200 kg dry matter/ha) of grass-clover pasture until conventional weaning (93 days after the midpoint of lambing) (Restricted-GrassCW). Results: In 2015, liveweight gain from L58 to L95 of HerbCW and GrassCW lambs did not differ (p>0.05), but were greater than HerbEW lambs. In 2016, HerbCW lambs had greater (p0.05) but were greater (p<0.05) than those of HerbEW and Restricted-GrassCW ewes. Conclusion: These results indicate that when grass-clover pasture supply can be maintained at unrestricted intake level, there may be no benefit of weaning lambs early. However, at restricted pasture conditions lambs can achieve greater liveweight gains when weaned early onto a herb-clover mix.

Twin sets of lambs were randomly allocated to one of six treatments: (1) lambs born and managed on ryegrass–clover-based pasture until conventional weaning approximately at 99 days of age (Grass–Grass_CW); (2) lambs born on ryegrass–clover-based pasture and early weaned onto a herb–clover mix at ~45 days of age (Grass–Herb_EW); (3) lambs born on ryegrass–clover-based pasture, transferred with their dam onto a herb–clover mix at ~45 days of age until conventional weaning (Grass–Herb_CW); (4) lambs born on ryegrass–clover-based pasture, transferred with their dam onto a herb–clover mix at ~15 days of age and early weaned onto a herb–clover mix at ~45 days of age (Grass–Herb_D15EW); (5) lambs born and managed on herb–clover mix until conventional weaning (Herb–Herb_CW); (6) lambs born on herb–clover mix and weaned early onto a herb–clover mix at ~45 days of age (Herb–Herb_EW). In both years, Herb–Herb_CW lambs had greater (p < 0.05) growth rates than lambs in other treatments. The liveweight gains and rumen papillae development of Herb–Herb_EW, Grass–Herb_D15EW and Grass–Herb_EW lambs did not differ (p > 0.05). The weight of the empty digestive tract components at either early weaning or conventional weaning did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments. Exposing early-weaned lambs to the herb mix for a prolonged period, prior to early weaning, does not improve their subsequent growth.

Liveweight gain of lambs weaned early at a minimum live weight of 14 kg, at ~50 days of age, onto a herb-clover mix was compared with lambs that remained unweaned on a grass-predominant pasture or a herb-clover mix until conventional weaning (at ~99 days of age). Over two years, twin sets of lambs that had a minimum live weight of 14 kg were randomly allocated to one of three treatments: (1) Early weaning of lambs onto a herb-clover mix (Herb_EW); (2) ewes and lambs grazing a herb-clover mix until conventional weaning (Herb_CW); and (3) ewes and lambs grazing a grass-predominant pasture until conventional weaning (Grass_CW). Herb_EW lambs had slower (p < 0.05) growth rates than Grass_CW lambs between early weaning and conventional weaning in 2016 and were 800 g lighter (p < 0.05) at conventional weaning. In 2017, however, both Herb_EW and Grass_CW had similar (p > 0.05) growth rates and did not differ (p > 0.05) in live weight at conventional weaning. Herb_CW lambs had a greater (p < 0.05) growth rates than both Herb_EW and Grass_CW lambs in both years. Lambs weaned early onto a herb-clover mix have the potential to achieve live weights similar to lambs unweaned on grass-predominant pasture. Further research, however, is required to understand conditions under which early-weaned lambs can achieve similar live weights.

Aflatoxins produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are known to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. Aflatoxins concentration (AC) in feed raw materials such as maize, wheat, peanut and rice by-products can exceed the threshold levels resulting in reduced quality of feed produced. This study aimed to quantify the AC and its association with the proximate composition (PC) (moisture, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and ash) of common feed raw materials. Two-year (2021-2022) data of AC and PC of commonly used feed raw materials were extracted from a database of one of the largest concentrate feed manufacturers in Sri Lanka. The data were then analysed using R software version 4.01, and the associations between PC and AC were quantified using correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The number of PCA components was determined using both Eigenvalues and Monte Carlo PCA simulation. The highest crude protein was found in Meat & Bone Meal (50.3±1.8%) and the lowest in Palm Kernel Meal (17.8±1.5%) of the protein sources used in feed formulation. The Dried Distillers Grains had the highest moisture content (14.9±1.8%) and Meat & Bone Meal had the lowest moisture content (3.4±2.0 %). Overall, the AC of most of the raw materials used in feed processing exceeded the threshold of 20µg/kg with the lowest level being observed in Boll Rice (4.9±1.2µg/kg) and the highest (55.5±58.3µg/kg) in Dried Distillers Grains. The correlation coefficients ranged from -0.68 to 0.57 and aflatoxin concentrations were generally poorly associated with feed nutrients except for moisture content (r=0.35). Therefore, these findings suggest that the aflatoxin concentration in commonly used feed raw materials increases when moisture content increase. This suggests that proper drying of raw materials should be encouraged prior to storage and feed processing to reduce the aflatoxins concentration in feed raw materials.