title: Effects of supplementation during late gestation on goat performance and behavior under rangeland conditions.
abstract: This study evaluated the effects of peripartum feed supplementation on doe and kid BW and BCS, milk yield and composition, serum metabolites, and maternal-neonatal behavior under rangeland conditions in northern Mexico. Adult does ( = 23) were randomly assigned to 3 nutritional plane groups: 1) goats supplemented (500 g of concentrate [18% CP/kg DM, 2.7 Mcal/kg DM, and 2% salt]) from 15 d prepartum to 7 d postpartum (G15; = 8), 2) the same supplementation as G15 but from 35 d before until 7 d after kidding (G35; = 8), and 3) nonsupplemented does (GC; = 7). Supplemented goats differed from GC goats in BW (48 ± 1.8, 46.1 ± 2.5, and 44.9 ± 2.3 kg; < 0.05), milk yield (1.8 ± 0.1, 1.9 ± 0.2, and 1.2 ± 0.1 kg at d 15 postpartum; < 0.01), kid birth weights (3.8 ± 0.2, 3.6 ± 0.2, and 3.4 ± 0.2 kg; < 0.05), and kid BW at 15 d after birth (6.9 ± 0.2, 6.6 ± 0.2, and 5.6 ± 0.2 kg; < 0.05) for the G35, G15, and GC, respectively. Serum concentrations for total protein, glucose, and cholesterol were not affected ( > 0.05) by treatments. Milk of GC goats showed increased ( < 0.05) percentages for fat, protein, lactose, and nonfat milk solids, whereas total quantities of these variables where higher ( < 0.05) in the G15 and G35 groups. Furthermore, GC dams spent more time seeking their offspring and emitted more low-pitched bleats 4 h postpartum ( < 0.05) in a 2-choice test compared with the G15 and G35 groups. In general, peripartum supplementation promoted a closer dam-kid relationship at 8 h postpartum. Goat performance may be improved in this semiarid region of Mexico with marginal production through supplementation in late gestation.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Luna-Orozco
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Meza-Herrera
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Contreras-Villarreal
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hernández-Macías
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Angel-Garcia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mellado
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Véliz-Deras
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000502:physiology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D058725:Peripartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol