Forage nutrition data from smallholder goat production systems in the Central Region of Malawi

Forage samples (n = 136, 26 species) were collected between February 2020 and July 2021 across four villages in the Central Region of Malawi. Plants were chosen based on informal observation of goat foraging/browsing, or on farmer discussions and 30 minute observations of goat foraging/browsing within 4 m of tether points or, if not tethered, within the area they were foraging/browsing.

Where possible, woody stems, dead/diseases material, and seeds were not selected during sampling. For grass sampling, leaves were clipped with blades and removed. Samples were identified to genus or species level by local academic botanists. Plants were classified as either 'herbaceous' (soft stemmed, such as grassed and forbs, n = 55) or browse (hard stemmed, such as trees, bushes, and shrubs, n = 76). The time of sampling was also classified as either wet season (November to April, n = 76) or dry season (May to October, n = 60).

Samples were oven dried to a constant weight in Malawi, vacuum packed, and then shipped to Rothamsted Research, in the UK, where proximate analysis was performed. In preparation for that, samples were freeze-dried and ground to < 2mm. Ash and organic matter was determined by loss on ignition (0.5 g, 540°C, 6 h). Crude protein was determined by the Dumas method. Fibre fractions of neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, and modified acid detergent fibre were quantified using an ANKOM 200 Fiber Analyzer, in line with manufacturer instructions.

Research was performed in accordance with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) Ethics guidelines. The project was approved by the Animal Science Department LUANAR sub-Ethics Committee (approval no. ANS/2018/5) on August 16th 2019.