Milk production, feed conversion ratio and reproduction of Zaraibi goats fed reed plants in different forms during late pregnancy and lactation periods
Abstract: This work was carried out on Zaraibi does to investigate the effect of feeding reed in three forms as forage, silage or hay on goat's milk production, feed conversion ratio and some blood constituents as well as reproductive parameters such as still birth, litter size, kidding rate and kilograms of kids produced per doe per year in addition to performance of the offspring. Twenty four pregnant does were divided into four equal groups and fed according to NRC (1981) allowances on 50% concentrate feed mixture (CFM). The other 50% was covered from: berseem hay (BH) in control group, reed hay (RH) in the second group, reed silage (RS) in the third group and fresh reed (RF) in the fourth group. The animals were in the late pregnancy period and continued until the ninth month of lactation.
The data indicated that the daily milk yield during suckling period was significantly affected with different feeding scheme. Milk yield during suckling period was significantly higher in RS (202.8 kg/h or 2.25 kg/hid) compared with BH (181.5 kg/h or 2.02 kg/hid) and RH (169.9 kg/h or 1.89 kg/h/d), while the differences between RF and both BH and RH were not significant. The same trend was observed also with mid and late lactation periods. Milk fat % tended to decrease in control group (BH) compared with the other groups and the differences were significant during suckling period only. However, no noticeable effect of tested rations was observed on milk quality such as pH value, acidity and somatic cell counts (SCC). The feed utilization ratio (based on OM and CP) was better in RS (1.062 and 0.131, respectively) compared with other groups.
Concerning hemato-biochemical parameters, the results indicated that most tested constituents of blood profile was not significantly affected by tested ration types. Moreover, hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC's), glucose and phosphorus decreased during the late pregnancy (preparturition) than in lactation period (postparturition) and the differences were significant in RBC's, glucose and phosphorus only. Litter size ranged from 2.67 to 2.83 with no-significant differences among treatments. Daily body gain of kids significantly improved in RS (113 g) and RF (107 g) compared with that of BH (101 g) and RH (97 g).
The mortality rate of kids noticeably reduced with RS (6.67 %) compared with other rations. Thus, output measured as kilograms of kids produced per doe per year recorded the highest value with RS group. Accordingly, RS group recorded the highest economic return followed by the RF then RH and lastly, BH that recorded the lowest value.
Publication year 2012
Pages 1-13
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City القاهرة
serial title 11th Conference Agricultural Development Research, Facultry Agricultural, Ain Shams University
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal physiology - NutritionAnimal physiology - Reproduction
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Blood composition. Hay. Litter size. Milk production. Parturition. Reproductive performance. Silage.
Proposed Agrovoc reed;reed fresh;feed conversion ratio;reproductive parameters;kids produced;
Publication Type Conference/Workshop
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