Effect of pre-and post-partum Feeding levels on live weight and Milk yield of Maraz goats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementary concentrate feed and ad libitum wheat straw throughout grazing Maraz does at commercial farm on pre-and post-partum body weight, and production of milk and its composition. The experimental design was supplementation from two months pre-partum to two months post-partum with three dietary groups (8 does each). The first does group (GI) was fed whole black barley at 250 g.doe.day (traditional farmer’s practice), while does of the second (GII) and third (GIII) groups were fed a concentrate diet at 500 and 750 g.doe.day, respectively. Results revealed that does weight gain before kidding and body weight throughout the experimental period increased significantly in the (GIII) group compared with other groups. Does of the second (GII)  and third (GIII) groups produced 5% (52.2 vs 49.7 kg ) and 30 % more milk (71.1 vs 49.7 kg), respectively compared with the (GI) group does. Whereas, does of (GIII) produced 27% more milk (71.1 vs 52.2 kg) than that of (GII) does during the suckling period. Furthermore, the low level of the feeding of the first group (GI) obtained significantly higher milk fat% but lower protein% compared to other counterparts. Milk production was affected significantly by the type of birth during the pre-weaning period. In conclusion, feed supplementation with an increased level of feeding concentrate pre-and post-partum in Maraz does was displayed to be advantageous in comparison to the first group (GI) as well as to those given low-level feeding of concentrate diet.