Livestock Research for Rural Development 20 (4) 2008
Nutritional effects of supplementary feeding on maternal blood metabolites, cortisol, thyroid hormones levels and on outcome of pregnancy of dry season kidding Tswana goats O R Madibela* and B V E Segwagwe** Sebele Station, Department of Agricultural Research, P/Bag 0033, Gaborone. Botswana *Present address: Agriculture and Life Science Division, P. O. Box 84, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, Canterbury, New Zealand
[email protected] ;
[email protected] **Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, P/Bag 0027, Gaborone. Botswana
Abstract The nutritional effects on maternal blood metabolites levels and outcome of pregnancy in goats were investigated. The supplementary diet (106g/kg crude protein) was given to S animals at a rate of 400g/animal/d. Two weeks prior to and at parturition, S (Supplemented) does were heavier (P0.05; 1.93±0.17 versus 1.64±0.18kid/doe for S and C respectively). Percentage reproductive wastage was lower (P0.05; 2.70±0.11 and 2.60±0.13kg). A significant (P0.05; * = P0.05) to that of C animals. Total reproductive wastage was not significantly (P>0.05) different between the two groups although it was lower for S than C animals. However, percentage total reproductive wastage was different (P0.05) between S and C animals. Multiples weighed lower (P0.05). Kids born as singles had similar (P>0.05) weights at birth for S and C. Does parturition weight had a significant effect (P0.05; * = P 0.05) for S and C animals (Table 3). However, two weeks prior to parturition S animals exhibited higher body weight (P
