Kids Production

• Production performance and physiological responses of Angora goat kids fed acidified milk replacer
• Effects of prepartum doe dietary protein and energy intake on performance and blood characteristics of precolostral Alpine kids
• Milk feeding and weaning of goat kids - a review
• Performance of Angora goat kids fed acidified milk replacer at two levels of intake

Production performance and physiological responses of Angora goat kids fed acidified milk replacer

Journal of Dairy Science 75:1643-1650. 1992.
T. Sahlu, H. Carneiro, H. M. El Shaer, and J. M. Fernandez

Angora kids were blocked by birth weight and sex and assigned randomly to goat milk or acidified milk replacer. Daily milk intake, weekly BW, and heart girth measurements, and blood parameters (packed cell volume, total protein, glucose, and NEFA) were monitored at 3 d (initial) and at 4, 6, 8, and 9 wk of age. Both groups were fed their respective milks for ad libitum intake for 6 wk and then reduced to 75, 50, 25, and 0% of wk-6 intake during wk 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively. Solid feed (20% CP and 3.1 Mcal of metabolizable energy/kg of DM) was provided for ad libitum intake starting on wk 3. Pretreatment BW (average 2.4 kg) and blood parameters were similar for milk and replacer groups. Packed cell volume (21.8 and 34.2%), total protein (50.3 and 46.6 g/L), and NEFA (0.52 and 0.69 meq/L) for goat milk and acidified milk replacer groups, respectively, were affected by dietary treatment. Final BW (average 10.5 kg) and mean plasma glucose concentration (84 to 88 mg/dL) were similar between treatments; however, kids fed goat milk produced more mohair (13.8%) than those fed acidified milk replacer. Despite physiological differences, acidified milk replacer can be used successfully to raise Angora kids.

Effects of prepartum doe dietary protein and energy intake on performance and blood characteristics of precolostral Alpine kids

Sheep and Goat Research Journal 11:35-41. 1995.
M. Smuts, and T. Sahlu

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effect of maternal nutrition on neonate performance and to determine whether prepartum maternal nutrition influences precolostral neonatal plasma characteristics. In the first of two experiments, 44 primiparous Alpine does were offered either 8.8, 11.0, or 14.3% crude protein (CP) on a dry matter (DM) basis in an isocaloric (2.06 Mcal metabolizable energy (ME) per kilogram DM) diet. In the second experiment, 63 multiparous Alpine does were offered either 8.4, 11.4, or 14.4% CP and 1.8, 2.2, or 2.6 Mcal ME per kilogram DM ad libitum starting in week 12 of gestation. Jugular blood samples, collected from kids within the first 15 minutes after birth, were analyzed for various metabolites. In experiment 1, total protein (P < 0.05), and in both experiments plasma urea nitrogen (N; P < 0.0001), were higher in neonates born to does fed diets with 14.3% protein. Free fatty acids (FFA), packed cell volume and ammonia N in experiment 1, and glucose, total protein, FFA, and creatinine in experiment 2, were unaffected by maternal nutrition. In the first experiment, glucose was depressed at intermediary CP levels, but neonatal birth weight (BW) did not differ between treatments, whereas neonatal BW was increased (P < 0.05) at intermediary CP and energy levels in the second experiment. In both experiments, FFA concentrations were two to four times higher in neonatal than maternal blood. It is speculated that the high FFA concentrations encountered may be due to very rapid (less than 15 minutes after birth) mobilization of adipose tissues by the neonate or because the goat may contain higher concentrations of lipoprotein lipase (which facilitates the hydrolysis of maternal triglycerides to FFA and transfer of these FFA to the fetus) in the placental tissues than other species. This factor needs further investigation. Calculations indicate that the effect of nutrition on performance characteristics should be assessed preferably using individual neonate BW or its metabolic unit instead of litter weight or its metabolic unit. It is concluded that goat maternal dietary CP variations affect neonatal plasma characteristics to a greater extent than maternal dietary energy and that current CP recommendations for goats are adequate for neonatal survivability.

Milk feeding and weaning of goat kids - a review

Small Ruminant Research 1:105-112. 1988.
C. D. Lu, and M. J. Potchoiba

Our studies on milk feeding and weaning methods for goat kids suggest that kids can be weaned earlier than the traditional weaning age of 3 months. Kids can be successfully weaned at 9 kg of body weight, 8 weeks of age or at the same time when at least 30 g/day of solid feed are consumed. Weaning shock is reduced when any of the above criteria are achieved. Restricted milk feeding encourage solid feed consumption by goat kids. In comparison with feeding milk three or four times per day, feeding milk twice daily reduced labor requirements, milk consumption, and growth rate, and increased efficiency of weight gain. If solid feed intake can be stimulated, early weaning is possible as well as economical. Delayed weaning is costly and can be harmful to the development of a functional reticulo-rumen.

Performance of Angora goat kids fed acidified milk replacer at two levels of intake

J.J. Davis, T. Sahlu, and R. Puchala

Daily milk intake, weekly BW and blood metabolites (total protein, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids and plasma urea nitrogen) were monitored using Angora kids offered ad libitum (AL) or restricted (RES) intakes of acidified milk replacer (AMR) twice daily during an 11 week period. Solid feed was provided ad libitum starting on week 3. All kids were shorn at the end of the experiment and midside samples taken for fiber characteristics. Average daily gain during the experiment was 30% higher for kids fed AL compared with those fed RES (144 vs 112 g/day; P < 0.001). Average daily milk intake was 0.97 L for RES and 1.37 L for AL (P < 0.001). Pre-treatment BW (2.8 ± 0.1 kg) and blood metabolites were similar for both groups. No differences were found in clean fiber production (275 vs 279 g; P < 0.85) or in any other fiber quality characteristics. Plasma concentrations of glucose (84 mg/dl; P > 0.53), NEFA (313 Eq/l) and total protein (60 g/l; P > 0.79) were not different between groups. Plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations were higher (10.1 vs 8.5 mg/dl; P < 0.01) for the kids in the RES treatment. No detrimental effects of feeding a restricted amount of AMR to Angora kids were noted on mohair production or blood metabolites although ADG was lower. Restricting milk intake may decrease costs of kid rearing by decreasing milk costs.