Lactation curves and body weight changes of Alpine, Saanen and Anglo-Nubian goats as well as pre-weaning growth of their kids

Figures & data

Table 1. Ingredients and chemical composition of the concentrate.

	(g/kg)
Ingredient
Sorghum grain	680
Soybean meal	200
Fish meal	100
Bacifermen lechones ^a	0.7
Sodium bicarbonate	0.5
Mineral premix	18.8
Chemical composition ^b
Crude protein	218.5
Neutral detergent fibre	269.1
Acid detergent fibre	124.1
Cellular content	730.5
Ash	80.3
Metabolisable energy^c	31.9

^aCulture of Lactic acid Bacillus plantarum.

^bAnalyzed values.

^cCalculated according to NRC (2001).

Figure 1. Lactation curves of Alpine, Saanen and Anglo-Nubian goats.

Figure 2. Lactation curves of Alpine, Saanen and Anglo-Nubian goats according to type of kidding.

Table 2. Regression coefficients of the equation of Wood lactation curve by breed and type of birth.

Variable	a (kg)	b	c
Breed
Alpine	1.41 ± 0.08^a	0.24 ± 0.02^b	0.007 ± 0.0011^b
Saanen	1.28 ± 0.10^ab	0.33 ± 0.03^a	0.012 ± 0.0014^a
Anglo-Nubian	1.18 ± 0.11^b	0.21 ± 0.04^c	0.005 ± 0.0016^c
Type of kidding
Single	1.130 ± 0.071^b	0.213 ± 0.02^b	0.005 ± 0.0010^b
Twin	1.417 ± 0.095^a	0.310 ± 0.03^a	0.011 ± 0.0013^a

Notes: Means within a column with different letters differ (P < 0.05). a is the associated parameter with the initial milk production; b is the associated parameter with the rise in milk production to peak lactation; c is the associated parameter with the decrease in milk production from peak to the end of lactation.

Table 3. Days at maximum milk production (TPY), maximum production per day (YP), persistence (PER), predicted total production (PTP) and total yield observed (OTP).

	TPY (d)	YP (kg)	PER (g/d)	PTP (kg)	OTP (kg)
Breed
Alpine	38.4 ± 4.6^ab	2.68 ± 0.15^b	10.759 ± 1.39^a	193.5 ± 10.1^a	193.4 ± 10.1^a
Saanen	28.5 ± 5.1^b	2.62 ± 0.17^b	14.430 ± 1.64^b	187.2 ± 12.5^a	187.4 ± 12.6^a
Anglo-Nubian	42.8 ± 6.5^a	2.07 ± 0.22^a	8.860 ± 2.02^a	152.6 ± 13.8^b	152.6 ± 13.9^b
Type of kidding
Single	42.41 ± 3.9^a	1.9 ± 0.13^b	8.86 ± 1.26^b	146.97 ± 8.7^b	146.93 ± 8.79^b
Twin	30.81 ± 5.0^b	2.9 ± 0.17^a	12.66 ± 1.64^a	208.64 ± 11.8^a	208.77 ± 11.84^a

^a,bMeans within a column with different letters differ (P < 0.05).

Table 4. Dry matter intake and live weight in lactating goats according to breed.

Variable	DMI (kg/d)	DMI (g/kg BW^0.75)	LW (kg)
Alpine	2.815 ± 0.016^a	156	47.311 ± 0.716^a
Saanen	2.765 ± 0.016^b	162	44.037 ± 0.779^b
Anglo-Nubian	2.559 ± 0.016^c	141	47.560 ± 0.623^a

^a,b,cMeans within a column with different letters differ (P < 0.05).

Table 5. Goat kids weaning weight and daily weight gain according to breed, type of kidding and sex.

	n	Weaning weight (kg)	Daily weight gain (g/d)
Breed
Alpine	20	18.87 ± 0.396	148.64 ± 5.15
Saanen	15	19.22 ± 0.491	153.19 ± 6.38
Anglo-Nubian	13	19.09 ± 0.511	151.51 ± 6.64
Type of kidding
Single	26	19.247 ± 0.374	153.42 ± 4.86
Twin	22	18.891 ± 0.410	148.80 ± 5.32
Sex
Male	22	20.000 ± 0.389^a	163.20 ± 5.06^a
Female	26	18.138 ± 0.361^b	139.02 ± 4.68^b

^a,bMeans within a column with different letters differ (P < 0.05).

NRC. 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. 7th ed. Washington (DC): National Academy Press.

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