The Small Ruminant Nutrition System: development and evaluation of a goat submodel

The Small Ruminant Nutrition System (SRNS) is a computer model based on the structure of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System for Sheep.A version of the SRNS for goats is under development and evaluation. In the SRNS for goats, energy and protein requirements are predicted based on the equations developed for the SRNS for sheep, modified to account for specific requirements of goats. Feed biological values are predicted based on carbohydrate and protein fractions and their ruminal degradation rates, on forage, concentrate and liquid passage rates, on microbial growth, and on physically effective fiber. The evaluation of the SRNS for goats based on literature data showed that the SRNS accurately predicted the ADG of kids (RMSEP = 32.5 g/d; r2= 0.85; CCC = 0.91), and the daily MEI (RMSEP = 0.24 Mcal/d g/d; r2= 0.99; CCC = 0.99) and the energy balance (RMSEP = 0.20 Mcal/d g/d; r2= 0.87; CCC = 0.90) of goats.