This study was conducted to identify the available goat feed resources for smallholder farmers in the semi-arid region of Zimbabwe. An ecological rangeland assessment was combined with participatory research methods to determine the diversity of feed resources in two wards of the Beitbridge District, namely Chamunangana and Joko. One hundred and twenty households were surveyed. All farmers depended on rangeland as the main feed resource. Some 87% of the respondents indicated that rangeland was not adequate, yet only 54% practiced supplementation. Participants predominantly used crop residues (40%), browse tree foliage (28%) and commercial feeds (22%) as supplements. Of the 46% who did not apply supplements, 53% attributed this to unavailability of feeding material and 29% were not aware of the importance, whereas the rest thought it unnecessary. Farmers in Chamunangana and those who milked their goats were more likely to supplement feed (p < 0.05). Respondents who supplemented had received training in goat husbandry (p < 0.05). The Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) was higher in Chamunangana (1.29), compared with Joko (1.19). There was no difference in biomass production between the study sites (p > 0.05). Improved goat nutrition could be achieved through farmer trainings in goat husbandry and incorporating available feeds into balanced rations.

本研究旨在为津巴布韦半干旱地区的小农确定可用的山羊饲料资源。生态牧场评估与参与式研究方法相结合，以确定 Beitbridge 区两个区，即 Chamunangana 和 Joko 的饲料资源多样性。对一百二十户家庭进行了调查。所有农民都依赖牧场作为主要的饲料资源。大约 87% 的受访者表示牧场不够用，但只有 54% 的受访者进行了补充。参与者主要使用作物残留物 (40%)、浏览树叶 (28%) 和商业饲料 (22%) 作为补充。在未使用补充剂的 46% 中，53% 将此归因于无法获得饲料，29% 没有意识到其重要性，而其余的则认为没有必要。p < 0.05)。补充的受访者接受过山羊饲养培训（p < 0.05）。与 Joko (1.19) 相比，Chamunangana (1.29)的 Shannon-Wiener 多样性指数 ( H ') 更高。研究地点之间的生物量生产没有差异（p > 0.05）。可以通过山羊饲养的农民培训和将可用饲料纳入均衡日粮来改善山羊营养。