Comparison of sheep and goat preferences for different forms of stoned olive cake

The objectives of this experiment were to investigate voluntary intake of stoned olive cake (SOC) in sheep and goats. The feeding experiment was carried out with a total of 10 animals consisting of five Karya yearlings and five Saanen goats (28.0 ± 2.0 and 37.0 ± 2.1 kg initial body weight (BW), respectively). Three feeds were offered as free-choice: alfalfa hay-maize silage mix (40:60 in dry matter basis), pelleted SOC, and ensiled SOC. Goats had higher (P < 0.001) dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intakes than sheep, although digestible DM and NDF intakes were similar. Goats consumed more (P < 0.05) pelleted SOC and ensiled SOC than sheep as a percentage of total intake (29.2 and 22.4%, respectively). Both sheep and goats preferred (P < 0.001) the silage form of SOC compared to the pelleted form of SOC.