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Tropentag, October 5 - 7, 2004 in Berlin

"Rural Poverty Reduction
through Research for Development and Transformation"


Supplementation of Maiden Does in Late Pregnancy and Early Lactation to Increase Colostrum and Milk Production to Enhance Kid Growth and Capretto Quality to Increase Profits

Uma Karki, John Milton, Ian Williams, Laura Mc Cann

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Department of Livestock Services Hariharbhawan, Nepal


Abstract


This research was conducted to test the general hypothesis that supplementation of maiden does for one week before kidding would increase colostrum and milk production, kid growth and capretto quality and increase profits.
Maiden Cashmere does with a single fetus were supplemented with lupins for 1 week before kidding. Colostrum produced at the point of kidding and milk produced up to Week 10 of lactation by these does were measured. Kid survival, birth weight and growth rate up to 10 weeks of age were also measured. At 10 weeks of age, kids were slaughtered and the quality and quantity of capretto were measured. The profits were calculated from the feeding costs of does and possible return from the sale of kids at different weeks of age.
Does supplemented with lupins before kidding produced more colostrum than the does fed the basal diet only. However, the survival and birth weight of kids were not affected. The milk production of does remained similar irrespective of the supplement fed before kidding. The kids grew at the same rate and produced the similar quantity and quality of capretto irrespective of the supplement fed to their mothers. The optimal age and live weight of kids at sale for the maximum profit were found to be 8.3 weeks and 13.5 kg respectively.
The use of maiden Cashmere does seems successful for premium quality capretto production. Supplementing the maiden Cashmere does prior to kidding does not seem to enhance capretto production for the conditions of this experiment. Such supplement might be beneficial under field conditions and in the case of multiple births. This needs to be tested. Kids need to be sold at their optimal age or live weight for a profitable capretto enterprise.


Keywords: Capretto, colostrum, feeding, kid (goat), milk, profits


Contact Address: Uma Karki, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Department of Livestock Services Hariharbhawan, G.p.o. Box 11458, Kathmandu, Nepal, e-mail: ukarki@ntc.net.np


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