•  
  •  
 

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effects of maternal CHI supplementation on biochemical metabolites profile, lactational performance of Jabal Akhdar goats and their kids’ growth performance during the transition period. Twelve Jabal Akhdar Omani pregnant does (with 13 ± 1.50 months and 32.0 ± 3 kg live BW) were allotted in one of three treatment groups (four does/treatment). Goats were offered an experimental diet composed of 650 g kg/head/day of concentrate mixture and free access to Rhodes grass hay. Goats were administered orally with 0.0, 0.2, and 0.4 g/kg DM of CHI for 60 days (i.e. four weeks before the expected kidding and four weeks afterwards). Kids were weighed at birth and weaning. The concentrations of both serum glucose (P = 0.021) and urea (P = 0.040) were augmented with CHI-administered does than in the non-administered goats. Provision of CHI showed no effect on feed intake but increased (P = 0.052) milk yield of does administered with CHI0.4 more than those with CHI0.0. However, the CHI-supplemented group showed greater milk protein (P = 0.048) and lactose (P = 0.031) contents, energy-corrected milk (P = 0.034), and fat-corrected milk (P = 0.018) than those fed with the CHI0.0-supplemented group. Kids whose dams received the CHI0.4 supplement had higher final weaning weight (P = 0.051), body weight change (P = 0.021), and daily gain (P = 0.043) than those dams were supplemented with the CHI0.0 or CHI0.2 groups. Maternal administration with 0.4 g/kg DM of CHI resulted in increased milk yield of Jabal Akhdar dams and their kids growth performance.

Download

Share

COinS