High feeding level after early weaning had no impact on subsequent milk production in Alpine goats

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to explore the effects of feeding level after early weaning on growth, reproduction performances and milk production in early weaned kids. Ninety Alpine goats were weaned at 9.7 ± 0.14 kg (30 days of age) and given different levels of concentrate: Control (C, 730 g DM/d, n = 30), Low (L, 365 g DM/d, n = 30) or High (H, 1090 g DM/d, n = 30) until 235 days of age. Goats were weighed twice a month until 11 months of age and once a month during lactation. Morphometric and reproduction parameters, as well as milk production during the first 100 days of the first lactation, were recorded. The ADG of the L group from birth to 230 days of age was decreased by 23% compared to the C group and by 33% compared to the H group (P .1). To conclude, after early weaning, feeding level impacted growth but without detrimental effect on milk yield.

Keywords

• Rearing
• feeding level
• lactation
• body weight
• Alpine goats