Effect of Weaning Period and Starter Nutrients Level on Growth, Feed Efficiency, and Blood Traits during Weaning Transition in Goat Kids

• Main Author: 劉璦寧
• Other Authors: YANG,JIE-MIN
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/7zm4y3

碩士 === 國立宜蘭大學 === 生物技術與動物科學系動物科學碩士班 === 107 === Kid performance is the key of business profit. High levels of milk feeding enhance weight gain of new born kids. However, such practice incurs difficulty in weaning transition and generally leads to stunted kid growth. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of weaning period and starter nutrients level on growth, feed efficiency, and blood traits during weaning transition in goat kids. Experiment 1 used cross-breed dairy goat kids (n=8, birth body weight=3.1±0.7 kg). Beginning age 1 week, kids were fed high amounts of milk at 20% of weekly body weight. After age 6 week, milk feeding level was held since at 20% of body weight of age 6 weeks. Kids were weaned at 12 weeks of age. The trail compared effect of gradual or abrupt weaning on growth during weaning transition in goat kids. Kids began starter feeding after age 1 week and amounts increased based on body weight percent. Bermudagrass straw was fed by age 7 weeks, also with incremental level by percentage of body weight. All kids were randomly distributed, by average daily gain up to age 6 weeks, to weaning treatment at age 10 (10W, n=4) or 11 (11W, n=4) weeks. Feed intake was recorded daily, and body weight was determined weekly during the experiment. Blood samples were taken for biological analysis at 1 week before weaning (age 9 or 10 weeks) and again one week (age 13 weeks) post kids were weaned. The results showed no differences in body weight at weaning (10.3±2.8, 12.8±3.1 kg) and two week post kids were weaned (9.4 ±1.9, 12.0 ±3.0 kg) between treatments. Average daily gain (-12.9±30.6、83.4±65.3 g) during weaning period (10 to 12 weeks of age) was greater (P<0.05) in kids weaning at age of 11 weeks. Average daily gain in weaning transition period did not alter. Pre-weaning plasma total protein and albumin levels elevated (P<0.05) in kids weaning at age 11 weeks. Experiment 2 used 18 cross-breed dairy goat kids (birth body weight=3.2±0.5 kg). Beginning at age 1 week, kids were fed milk at 15% of weekly body weight. After age 6 week, milk feeding level was held since at 15% of body weight at age of 6 week. Kids started weaning from 12 weeks of age and weaned at 14 weeks of age. Kids began starter feeding after age 1 week and the amounts were based on weekly body weight percent. The experiment compared feeding low or high content of non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) starter to goat kids before weaning (started feeding at 10 weeks), and evaluated effect on growth. All kids were randomly distributed, by average daily gain up to age 6 weeks, to low (LOW, n=9) or high (HIGH, n=9) content of NFC starter treatment. Feed intake was recorded daily, and body weight was determined weekly during the trial. Blood samples were taken for biological analysis at 1 week before weaning (age 11 weeks) and again 2 (age 16 weeks) and 6 weeks (age 20 weeks) post kids were weaned. The results showed not different in body weight of kids being weaned (12.2±2.2, 11.8±1.7 kg) and 20 weeks of age (13.3 ±2.8, 12.8 ±2.3 kg) between treatments. Average daily gain (40.4±21.2, 27.9±24.8 g) and feed efficiency during weaning period (12 to 14 weeks of age) were no differences between treatments. Average daily gain (24.7±33.3、25.1±41.0 g) during weaning transition period (12 to 16 weeks of age) and average daily gain (35.4±40.7、24.7±44.9 g) during after weaned (16 to 20 weeks of age) also did not differ between treatments. Pre-weaning plasma creatinine levels elevated (P<0.05) in kids fed low NFC starter. No differences were found in blood traits after kids were weaned. Based on the results from thesis experiments, weaning period or offering high content of NFC starter had no effect on growth during weaning transition period and after kids were weaned.