T. Sahlu

The effect of short-term consumption of a forage containing condensed tannins on gastro-intestinal nematode parasite infections in grazing wether goats

The effect of grazing a forage containing condensed tannins (CT), sericea lespedeza (SL, Lespedeza cuneata, 46xa0g extractable CT/kg DM), on the total fecal egg production of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and egg hatch percentage was compared with a control forage low in CT (rye/crabgrass (RC), 6xa0g extractable CT/kg DM) using Spanish wether goats (47.0xa0kg BW). A crossover experimental design was utilized with groups of five and six animals. Each group grazed one forage species in the first 15 day period and then were switched so they grazed the other forage species during the second 15 day period. The mean fecal egg count (FEC) and total fecal egg output (TFEO) were reduced (2500 versus 710 eggs/g, P<0.0001 and 173 versus 45×104 eggs per day, P<0.01) in goats grazing SL compared with RC. The percentage of eggs developing to L-3 larvae was reduced from 99 to 58.2% (P<0.01) by grazing SL. It is concluded that grazing SL, a CT containing forage, reduced fecal egg production from GIN, reduced hatch and development of larvae and consequently, would reduced pasture contamination by infective larvae, thereby mitigating the need for anthelmintics to control GIN.

Dairy goat performance with different dietary concentrate levels in late lactation

Alpine yearling doelings (22; 44+/-1.0kg) and mature does (25; 59+/-1.7kg) were used in an experiment with 16 weeks in late lactation, 8-13 weeks dry and 12 weeks in the subsequent lactation. Diets of 20, 35, 50 or 65% concentrate and 2.18, 2.34, 2.49 and 2.62Mcal/kg ME, respectively (20C, 35C, 50C and 65C treatments, respectively), were consumed ad libitum in late lactation, with a 35% concentrate diet (2.18Mcal/kg ME) in the first 4 weeks of the dry phase and 50% concentrate (2.65Mcal/kg ME) until kidding. Other goats consuming 20 or 35% concentrate in late lactation received 65 (2.65Mcal/kg ME) or 50% concentrate, respectively, in the dry phase (20A and 35A treatments, respectively). All goats consumed a 50% concentrate diet (2.42Mcal/kg ME) in the subsequent early lactation. DM intake in late lactation was similar among treatments (1.95, 2.21, 2.17, 2.10, 1.99 and 2.00kg per day for 20C, 35C, 50C, 65C, 20A and 35A, respectively; S.E.=0.098) and greater (P<0.05) for does versus doelings (2.16 versus 1.98kg per day; S.E.=0.058); DM intake in the dry phase was similar among treatments. Relative to BW, DM intake was greater (P<0.05) for doelings than for does in late lactation (4.16 versus 3.43% BW) and early lactation (4.56 versus 3.80% BW). The effect of dietary treatment on milk production in late lactation varied with parity (P<0.05); milk production by doelings was 1.39, 1.49, 1.43, 1.57, 1.29 and 1.52kg per day and by does was 1.01, 1.89, 2.38, 1.63, 1.17 and 1.34kg per day for 20C, 35C, 50C, 65C, 20A and 35A, respectively; S.E.=0.200). BW change during the entire 16 weeks late lactation phase was greater (P<0.05) for 65C than for other treatments except 50C (6.9, 5.6, 9.1, 10.4, 5.8 and 4.0kg for 20C, 35C, 50C, 65C, 20A and 35A, respectively; S.E.=1.28), although BW at kidding and litter weight were similar among treatments. BW, DM intake and milk production in the first 12 weeks of the subsequent lactation were not affected by dietary treatment or parity. In conclusion, with moderate to high quality forage in late lactation and a moderate level of concentrate in the dry period, the level of concentrate fed in late lactation and in the dry period may not affect subsequent lactation performance regardless of parity. Milk production by doelings in late lactation appears relatively less responsive to dietary concentrate level than that by does.

Effects of dietary tallow level on performance of Alpine does in early lactation

Sixty Alpine does (initial BW 47+/-1.3kg) were used to determine effects of dietary inclusion of different levels of partially hydrogenated tallow on performance in early lactation (weeks 3-11). Treatments entailed a 30% concentrate, negative control (NC) diet and five diets higher in concentrate (42-46%) with 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 or 6.0% DM of partially hydrogenated tallow (0T, 1.5T, 3.0T, 4.5T and 6.0T, respectively). DM intake was 1.54kg per day for the NC and 1.86, 1.80, 1.99, 2.17 and 1.96kg per day for the five tallow treatments, respectively, BW was similar among treatments and increased as the trial progressed (47.4, 48.4, 49.8, 50.4, 50.8 and 51.3kg at weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13, respectively). Milk yield was lower (P<0.05) for NC (2.61kg per day) compared with the mean of the other diets and changed quadratically (P<0.05) as tallow level increased (2.85, 3.08, 3.14, 3.21 and 2.69kg per day for the five tallow treatments, respectively). Milk fat concentration was lower (P<0.05) for NC (2.94%) than for the mean of other diets and increased linearly (P<0.05) with increasing tallow level (3.00, 3.17, 3.34, 3.48 and 3.58%) whereas, milk protein concentration was not affected by level of tallow (2.72, 2.80, 2.93, 2.85, 2.90 and 2.90% for NC, and the five tallow treatments, respectively). The estimated NE(l):4% fat-corrected milk yield ratio was 0.93Mcal/kg for NC and 1.30, 1.11, 1.21, 1.37 and 1.44Mcal/kg for the five tallow treatments, respectively. The results indicated that in Alpine does, milk yield in early lactation increased as dietary tallow level was increased to 3 and 4.5% but decreased when the level was increased to 6%, although milk fat concentration increased linearly and the protein level was unchanged. These results suggest beneficial usage by lactating Alpine does of low to moderate levels of partially hydrogenated tallow in diets moderate in concentrate level, although ingredient availability and costs will influence ultimate dietary ingredient decisions.

Effects of dietary protein level on performance of Angora and cashmere-producing Spanish goats

Abstract Effects of dietary crude protein level on fiber production of Angora and cashmere-producing Spanish goats were studied in 16 yearling doelings (eight Spanish, eight Angora) for 8 weeks. Goats were housed in individual stalls and maintained at constant temperature (21 °C) with 9 h light and 15 h darkness each day. Goats were initially sheared, blocked by body weight (BW) and assigned to one of two dietary treatments (8% or 16% crude protein (CP)) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Diets were isocaloric (2.9 Meal kg −1 digestible energy (DE)) and were fed ad libitum. Dry matter intake (DMI) was similar for Angora and cashmere-producing Spanish goats. Daily DMI (612 vs. 892 g day −1 ) and BW gain (38 vs. 127 g day −1 ) were greater ( P −1 ) and BW gain (55 vs. 116 g day −1 ) were also increased ( P −1 ) increased ( P P P P P P P P P > 0.05) by diet CP level for cashmere-producing Spanish goats. Increasing diet CP level increased mohair production, diameter and staple length, but had little effect on cashmere fiber production. Increasing dietary protein also increased DMI, BW gain and feed efficiency in both types of goats.

Growth of yearling meat goat doelings with changing plane of nutrition

Abstract Yearling meat goat doelings, 25 Boer×Spanish (BS) and 25 Spanish (S) (27 and 21xa0kg initial BW, respectively; S.E.=0.6), were used in a 16-week experiment (four 28-day periods) to determine effects on growth of length of nutrient restriction and level of concentrate supplementation during realimentation. Doelings consumed prairie hay (6.2% CP, 70% NDF and 9.1% ADL) ad libitum and received daily supplementation with 0.75% BW of concentrate (30% CP; C treatment), sequential 28-day periods of no supplementation and daily supplementation with 1.50 or 0.75% of concentrate (H-28 and L-28, respectively) or 56 days without supplementation followed by supplementation for 56 days with 1.50 or 0.75% of concentrate (H-56 and L-56, respectively). Ruminal ammonia N concentration was below 6xa0mg/dl when concentrate was not supplemented. ADG was similar among dietary treatments and between genotypes in period 1. Dietary treatment and genotype interacted (P

Effects of ruminally degraded nitrogen source and level in a high concentrate diet on site of digestion in yearling Boer × Spanish wether goats

Abstract Eight yearling Boer×Spanish wether goats (36.6±2.3xa0kg average initial BW) with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used in an experiment with two simultaneous 4×4 Latin squares to study effects of dietary level of CP, the ratio of ruminally degraded intake N or protein (DIP) to TDN and source of supplemental DIP on site of digestion with a high concentrate diet. Diets were formulated to be (DM basis) 9.2% CP, without inclusion of urea (U0) or soybean meal (SBM; S0); 11.3%, CP achieved with 0.73% urea (U1) or 4.48% SBM (S1); 13.3% CP, via use of 1.46% urea (U2) or 8.90% SBM (S2); or 15.2% CP, derived through use of 2.16% urea (U3) or 13.2% SBM (S3). The ratio of DIP:TDN was 0.073, 0.104, 0.136, 0.167, 0.073, 0.093, 0.113 and 0.132 for U0, U1, U2, U3, S0, S1, S2 and S3, respectively. Diets contained 30% cottonseed hulls and were corn-based and fed at 2% BW (DM basis). Apparent ruminal N digestibility increased quadratically as level of supplemental CP rose (−71.6, −39.9, −20.5, 8.5, −60.3, −12.5, −8.4 and −3.5% for U0, U1, U2, U3, S0, S1, S2 and S3, respectively; S.E.=6.6). Microbial OM and N flows to duodenum decreased linearly as CP level increased. Ruminal and total tract NDF digestibilities (e.g. total tract: 51.3, 57.6, 57.7, 57.4, 49.7, 52.3, 53.2 and 53.2% for U0, U1, U2, U3, S0, S1, S2 and S3, respectively) increased linearly and tended to change quadratically as CP level increased. In conclusion, a dietary CP concentration of 11–13% and DIP:TDN ratio of 0.10–0.11 were adequate for maximal total tract OM digestibility in meat goats consuming a corn-based, high concentrate diet, regardless of supplementation with a source of non-protein versus natural protein, although magnitudes of difference in digestibility with lower levels were not marked. A dietary CP concentration of 9–10% and ratio of DIP to TDN of 0.073 were sufficient for highest microbial protein production. With ample tissue N reserves, the ability of meat goats to recycle N may preclude realization of substantial benefits from supplementing high concentrate diets around 9% CP with additional DIP, and high concentrate diets appear to satisfy microbial needs for non-ammonia nitrogenous compounds.

Effects of level of broiler litter in diets containing wheat straw on performance of Alpine doelings

Abstract Thirty-two Alpine doelings (15 weeks of age; 12±2.05xa0kg BW) were used in a completely randomized design 12-week experiment to compare performance with diets based on wheat straw (WS) supplemented with different levels of broiler litter to WS supplemented with a conventional protein source or ammoniated through urea treatment (TWS). Treatments were feeding of a corn-based concentrate at 1.5% of BW (DM basis) with TWS (U) and the U supplement plus approximately 0.4% BW of soybean meal (S) or 0.8 or 1.6% BW of broiler litter (LL and HL, respectively) with WS. Nitrogen concentration was 0.47 and 2.07% DM and in vitro DM digestibility was 47.7 and 67.8% for WS and TWS, respectively; concentrate N concentration was 1.27, 3.16, 2.35 and 2.66% for U, S, LL and HL, respectively. Crude protein intake in week 6 was approximately 11.0, 14.6, 9.4 and 11.7% of total DM intake (DMI) for U, S, LL and HL, respectively. Organic matter digestibility was greater ( P P P P

Evaluation of melatonin and bromocryptine administration in Spanish goats

Abstract Melatonin treatment for out of season breeding in goats may also affect skin hair follicle activity, thereby influencing the spring growth phase and yield of cashmere. Female Spanish goats (15 does and 65 kids) were allotted to five treatments: control (C), melatonin implants (MI; 18xa0mg, 42-day release); melatonin and bromocryptine implants (MIB; 225xa0mg, 60-day release period); oral administration of melatonin (MO; 3xa0mg/day); oral administration of melatonin and bromocryptine implants (MOB). Treatments began in March (spring), and hair follicle characteristics were monitored monthly from February to May. Mean initial and final body weights were 27.9xa0±xa01.2 and 35.3xa0±xa01.2xa0kg, respectively. The total follicle number was greater ( P P P P P r xa0=xa00.32), and the correlation ( P r xa0=xa00.31. The primary active follicle ratio did not differ between treatments, but the secondary active follicle ratio was greater ( P 2 , 26.8xa0±xa01.22xa0mm 2 , 30.8xa0±xa01.31xa0mm 2 , 7.0:1xa0±xa00.23, 74.0xa0±xa02.87xa0μm, 15.6xa0±xa00.19xa0μm and 4.7:1xa0±xa00.18, respectively. Positive correlations were recorded ( P r xa0=xa00.99), secondary to primary ratio ( r xa0=xa00.68), group follicle number ( r xa0=xa00.63) and group secondary to primary follicle ratio ( r xa0=xa00.63), and primary follicle diameter with primary secondary diameter ratio ( r xa0=xa00.96). Negative correlations were recorded ( P r xa0=xa0−0.42), secondary follicle diameter ( r xa0=xa0−0.33) with secondary and primary follicle ratio ( r xa0=xa0−0.48), and primary follicle number with primary and secondary diameter ratio ( r xa0=xa0−0.33). Of the follicular groupings, 90% were of the trio primary follicle type, whereas the remaining 10% were of the solo, duo and quartet primary follicular group formations. All primary follicles possessed medullae and some secondary marginal follicles (intermediate type) were medullated, but few follicles of the pure cashmere follicle type had medullae. Hair follicles varied from low, moderate to high density in Spanish goats. Fiber growth rate, fiber diameter and extended follicular activity rate during the spring months suggest that an accelerated breeding program for Spanish goats by melatonin treatment for breeding in the spring could be also profitable by extending the spring cashmere growth phase into a commercially harvestable cashmere length.

Effects of different feeding methods on growth and harvest traits of young Alpine kids

Abstract Growth and carcass traits were studied in 30 Alpine wether kids (2 weeks of age) fed with ad libitum (A) or limited (1xa0kg/day) milk, with (LC) or without (L) ad libitum supplemental concentrate, and slaughtered at 10 or 13 weeks of age. ADG was lowest among dietary treatments for L (P

Effects of separate offering of forage and concentrate on feed intake and growth of Alpine doelings

Abstract Forty-four weaned Alpine doelings (16±0.19xa0kg initial BW) were used in a 16 week experiment to determine how separate free-choice offering of concentrate and forage (wheat hay, 14.2 CP and 62% NDF) affects performance compared with consumption of mixed diets of different proportions of concentrate and forage. Treatments were A-25C: 25% concentrate mixed diet consumed ad libitum; A-50C: 50% concentrate mixed diet consumed ad libitum; A-75C: 75% concentrate mixed diet consumed ad libitum; AC-AF: ad libitum consumption of concentrate and forage, offered separately; and LC-AF: restricted intake of concentrate (approximately 2% BW) and ad libitum intake of forage. Concentrate was 72.8% ground corn, 15.2% soybean meal, 6% fish meal and 6% dried molasses product. Orts averaged 6.7±0.58% of diet offered. Intake of DM was similar among treatments (625, 641, 623, 704 and 653 gram per day; S.E.=38.6), and dietary concentrate was 26, 53, 80, 84 and 61% of DM intake for A-25C, A-50C, A-75C, AC:AF and LC:AF, respectively; S.E.=1.51). ADG was greatest (P