Effects of oral administration of colostrum whey in peripartum goat on antimicrobial peptides in postpartum milk

The present study was conducted to examine whether colostrum supplementation in peripartum goats increases the antimicrobial peptides in their milk. Goats were orally administered 2 ml of colostrum whey products (colostrum group) or water (control group) daily, from 2 weeks before until 2 weeks after kidding. Body weights of mothers and kids were measured. Blood, milk, and fecal samples were collected from the mothers, and blood samples were collected from the kids. Concentrations of milk antimicrobial peptides (beta‐defensin, cathelicidin, lactoferrin, S100A7, lactoperoxidase, and immunoglobulin A [IgA]) were determined. IgA and nutritional parameters (glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, ketone bodies, and non‐esterified fatty acids) were also determined in the blood of mothers and kids. Milk IgA and lactoferrin concentrations were higher in the colostrum group than in the control group. Conversely, lower milk concentrations of S100A7 were observed in the colostrum group than that in the control group. Plasma IgA concentrations were higher for kids from the colostrum group than for those from the control group. These results suggest that oral administration of colostrum in pregnant goats increases IgA concentration in postpartum milk, which can subsequently improve the health of their kids.     

Reproductive Performance and Milk Production of Damascus Goats Fed Acacia Shrubs or Berseem Clover Hay in North Sinai,Egypt

Thirty-three adult Damascus does (29±1.1 kg BW) were fed 0.6 kg per head per day of a concentrate diet plus ad libitum rice straw (Oryza sativa, control, R), or green acacia (Acacia saligna, A) or berseem clover hay (Trifolium alexandrinum, B). All treatment groups had free access to underground saline water containing 3600 ppm TDS. The DM intake was lower (p<0.05) for the R group but did not differ between the other two groups. The DM intake of acacia was 0.64 kg per head per day (1.98% BW) during pregnancy and 0.93 kg per head per day (2.95% BW) during lactation. The drinking water differed (p<0.05) between the three dietary treatments; group B had the highest mean intake and group A had the lowest. The percentage kidding and the litter weight at birth did not differ significantly between the groups. However, the number of kids weaned/doe kidding and the weight of the kids weaned/doe kidding were significantly higher for group B. The mean body weight of the kids at birth and at weaning were significantly lower for group R. The total milk yield over 10 weeks and the milk composition (total solids, fat and protein percentages) were significantly different between the three groups; group B having the highest means and group R the lowest. These results suggest that supplemental feeding is required to enhance the productivity of goats in arid or semi-arid environments and Acacia saligna should not be used fresh in excessive quantities for extended periods.     

A successful attempt to raise goat kids free of infection with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus in an endemically infected goat herd

Goat kids from a herd endemically infected with caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) virus were raised according to 3 methods. One group of ten goat kids was removed from infected does at birth before suckling or licking by the doe could occur (snatch birth technique). Kids were fed on goat colostrum, which had been heated to 57 degrees C for ten minutes and then held in a thermos flask for one hour. Subsequently the kids were fed reconstituted spray dried cows' milk powder. They were raised apart from infected goats with separation maintained by a wire fence. Contact occurred across-the-fence. Passively acquired serum antibody to CAE virus was detected in some kids at two to three months of age. Nine of the ten goats were negative for serum antibody to CAE virus when tested at 5-6, 9 and 12 months of age. One goat was positive at three and nine months of age but was negative when tested at 12 months of age. A second group of four kids was removed at birth and fed heat-treated goat colostrum, followed by milk from CAE virus-infected does. All four kids became infected with CAE virus; they developed serum antibody to CAE virus between 5-6 and 9 months of age. A third group of two kids was not removed from their infected dams. Both kids were infected at 5-6 and 9 months of age.     

Reproductive and productivity traits of goats grazing Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. with and without daily PEG supplementation

A grazing experiment, conducted for 90 days compared the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) supplementation on postpartum reproductive traits and productivity of suckling goats grazing Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. A total of 54 native adult goats (34.4 ± 5.49 kg) were randomly allocated, 24 h after kidding, to 2 treatment groups balanced for age and the number of reared kids. Goats in both treatment groups designed C and PEG grazed in acacia for approximately 5 h every day and received each on daily basis 0.3 and 0.4 kg of hay and concentrate respectively. In addition, goats in treatment PEG were initially supplemented with 10 g/day of PEG and this supplement was then increased to 20 g /goat/day over the last 60 days of the trial. Goats receiving PEG tended (P > 0.05) to spend more time browsing acacia than those in treatment C. There were no treatment effects on live weight change of the goats, growth of their kids until 90 days of age or composition of their milk in terms of fat, protein and urea contents. Similar proportions of 74.1 and 77.8% of goats resumed postpartum ovulation with a mean ovulation rate of 1.50 ± 0.61 and 1.67 ± 0.47 (P > 0.05) in respectively the PEG and C treatments. PEG supplementation was associated with an increase (P < 0.05) in ovulation rate at the second postpartum ovulation occurring approximately 27 days after the application of the nutritional treatments (1.76 ± 0.60 versus 1.25 ± 0.45); 9 of the 13 goats ovulating in the PEG treatment were bearing more than one corpus lutuem in comparison to only 3 out of 12 females in the C group (P < 0.05). The likely increased availability of proteins in the PEG receiving goats could explain their higher ovulation rate.     

Transmission and control of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus was isolated from goat milk and transmitted most efficiently to kids through both milk and colostrum. In addition, it appeared that transmissions through other secretions of the doe occurred, but were less important than transmission in milk and colostrum. Intrauterine infection may have occurred in 2 of 32 cesarean-derived goats, but postpartum horizontal transmission could not be ruled out. Transmission by the aerosol route was not demonstrated, and even short-term direct contact between virus-infected bucks and virus-free does during breeding did not result in transmission. Prolonged direct contact for over 12 months between weaned cesarean-derived goats and virus-infected goats was necessary before horizontal transmission could be demonstrated under nondairy conditions. However, when uninfected does were milked with infected does, a high percentage became infected in less than 10 months. Heat inactivation (56 C) reduced approximately 10(5) median tissue culture infective doses of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus to below titratable levels, and virus was not transmitted to kids fed virus-infected colostrum that had been heated at 56 C for 1 hour. A program of eradication is discussed in which kids are removed from their dams at birth, fed safe sources of colostrum and milk, and isolated from other goats until weaning.     

Birth to weaning kid traits from a complete diallel of Boer, Kiko, and Spanish meat goat breeds semi-intensively managed on humid subtropical pasture

Boer, Kiko, and Spanish meat goats were semi-intensively managed in a complete 3-breed diallel mating scheme to evaluate genetic effects on preweaning kid performance. Over a 6-yr period, 1,547 kids were born in March and May with 1,173 kids raised by their dams to weaning at 3 mo of age. March-born kids were lighter (P < 0.01) at birth, but had greater (P < 0.01) preweaning ADG and survival rates and heavier (P < 0.01) weaning weights than May-born kids. For birth weight, the direct Boer effect was positive (P < 0.01) and direct effects were negative (P < 0.01) for Kiko and Spanish. The direct Kiko effect for preweaning ADG was positive (P < 0.05), whereas other direct breed effects for ADG and all direct effects for weaning weight did not differ from 0 (P > 0.10). Maternal Boer effects were negative (P < 0.01) for birth weight and weaning weight, whereas maternal Kiko effects were significantly (P < 0.05) positive for preweaning ADG and weaning weight. Maternal Spanish effect was positive (P < 0.05) for birth weight, but did not differ from 0 (P > 0.5) for preweaning ADG or weaning weight. Heterosis for birth weight was exhibited (P < 0.01) for each pair of breed crosses, but only between Boer and Kiko for ADG and weaning weight. Kiko and Spanish dams had greater (P < 0.01) preweaning kid survival rates than Boer dams, but the former 2 did not differ (P = 0.72). Significant genetic variation was observed between meat goat breeds for kid performance to weaning. Maternal breed effects were more influential than direct breed effects. Boer goats were not superior to Kiko or Spanish for preweaning kid performance when semi-intensively managed on humid, subtropical pasture. Kiko should be a preferred breed and to a lesser extent Spanish for enhancing birth to weaning kid performance. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of proper doe breed selection in achieving desired kid performance to weaning in meat goats.     

Growth performance of Black Bengal,Saanen, and their crossbred F1 as affected by sex,litter size,and season of kidding

The objective of the present study was to determine the factors that influenced growth performance of the goat kids of Black Bengal (BB), Saanen (SA), and their crossbred F1 (male Bengal × female Saanen [BBSA] and male Saanen × female Black Bengal [SABB]). Data for 674 kids were analyzed from 316 litters and 134 does. All kids were weekly measured on their characteristics (body weight, length, height at the withers, and chest girth) from birth to 11 weeks old. The kid’s breed and sex, litter size, and season of kidding influenced birth weight and other characteristics through the experiment. The SA and BBSA kids showed similar performance, which were higher than BB and SABB kids. Male kids had higher performance than female kids, and kids from a single litter showed the highest performance. Kids born during rainy season showed lower performance than those born in hot and cool seasons. In conclusion, the crossbred BBSA is superior to SABB or BB to raise in tropical climate Moreover, sex, litter size, and kidding season also affected growth performance during the preweaning period up to 11 weeks old.     

Effect of doe milking and supplementation using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dichrostachys cinerea</Emphasis> pods on kid and doe performance in grazing goats during the dry season

Effects of supplementation and milking of Matebele does four weeks pre-partum to weaning, on milk yield, kid birth weight and growth rate were studied. Forty does were divided into four treatments: supplemented and milked (SM), supplemented and not milked (SNM), not supplemented and milked (NSM); and not supplemented and not milked (NSNM). Supplemented goats were given 200 g/doe/day of Dichrostachys cinerea pods containing 19% CP. The study was carried out in September during time of feed unavailability and animals were grazed on rangelands for seven hours before being given the supplement. Fifty-six kids were born from all the experimental animals and 24 were singles whereas 32 were twins. Milk yield was higher (P < 0.05) in supplemented than non-supplemented does. Although supplementation had no effect on kid birth weights, growth rates were higher (P < 0.05) in the SNM group (103 ± 10.1 g/day) than in the SM group (74 ± 10.8 g/day). Among the non-supplemented groups, kids from milked does had higher (P < 0.05) daily gains (85 ± 10.9 g/day) than those from non-milked does (67 ± 10.7 g/day). Weaning weights were higher (P < 0.05) in SNM does (12.8 ± 1.30 g/day) than in the SM does (10.2 ± 1.17 g/day). Among kids from the non-supplemented does, those from milked does had superior (P < 0.05) weaning weights (11.2 ± 1.23 g/day) than those from non - milked does (9.2 ± 1.27 g/day). Mortalities were also lowest in kids born from SNM does. It is concluded that pre-partum to weaning supplementation generally increases milk production which then increases kids growth rates and weaning weights, as well as reduce kid mortalities.     

影响哺乳期羔羊生长的母羊因素分析

为探索母羊因素对哺乳期云上黑山羊羔羊生长发育的影响,根据母羊体重、胎次分别选取云上黑山羊初生羔羊90只和120只,公、母各半,从出生开始直至90日龄断奶,每10天进行1次体重测定,进行生长发育分析。结果表明:(1)母羊产后体重对羔羊初生重、哺乳期体重具有显著影响(P<0.05)。母羔中,38~45 kg母羊组和48~62 kg母羊组的羔羊初生重、平均日增重均显著高于28~35 kg母羊组(P<0.05)。公羔中,38~45 kg母羊组的羔羊初生重显著高于其他两组羔羊(P<0.05),48~62 kg母羊组其羔羊平均日增重显著高于其他两组羔羊(P<0.05)。(2)母羊胎次对母羔初生重没有显著影响,但对母羔哺乳期体重均有显著影响(P<0.05),母羔中,3胎、4胎母羊组的羔羊平均日增重均显著高于1胎和2胎母羊组;母羊胎次对公羔的影响不显著。说明母羊产后体重显著影响羔羊胎儿期和哺乳期的生长发育,合适的母羊体重可以为羔羊提供充足的营养;母羊胎次仅对哺乳期母羔具有显著影响,母羊的母性行为随胎次的增加而完善。     

Estrus Synchronization in Sheep and Goats Using Combinations of GnRH,Progestagen and Prostaglandin F2α

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of GnRH, progestagen and prostaglandin F_2α on estrus synchronization in sheep and goats. Sixty Awassi ewes and 53 Damascus does were used in the study. The experiment started at the beginning of the breeding season (June/July). The same treatments were applied to sheep and goats as follows: no treatment (CON), 14‐day progestagen sponges and 600 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (S), gonadotropin releasing hormone followed 5 days later by prostaglandin F_2α (GP) and gonadotropin releasing hormone, progestagen sponges for 5 days and prostaglandin F_2α on the day of sponge removal (GSP). None of the ewes in the S group lambed from mating during the induced cycle. A greater lambing rate (p < 0.05) was observed in the GSP group compared with the CON and S groups while the GP group was intermediate. The number of lambs born per lambed ewe was similar among the CON, GP and GSP groups. However, the number of lambs per exposed ewe was greater (p < 0.05) in the GSP than the remaining groups. The induced cycle kidding rate was 77% for all treatments combined. Similar kidding rate were observed among treatments. The numbers of kids born per kidded and exposed doe from mating during the induced estrus were also similar among treatments. Greater numbers of multiple births were observed in the GP and GSP than in the S group. In conclusion, a combination of GnRH, progestagen sponges and PGF_2α can be effective in synchronizing estrus and improving fecundity in sheep and goats. Although the use of GnRH–PGF_2α was effective, the addition of progestagen sponges at the time of GnRH administration appeared to improve reproductive parameters.     

Milk let-down in goats can be influenced by the type of stimuli applied or to which goats are exposed during suckling and hand milking

The present experiments on goats were conducted with the aim of verifying (a) whether the identity of the goat kids can affect the characteristics of milk let-down during suckling (Study 1) and (b) whether the presence of the goat kids may improve the milk let-down during hand milking (Study 2). In Study 1, 16 lactating goats with twins and 12 with single kids were used. Dams with single goat kids ejected more milk when suckling their kids at Days 5 and 20 of lactation, than when suckling aliens. Dams with twins ejected more milk when suckling their own kids than aliens only at Day 5 of lactation. Taking into account all the dams, they ejected more milk with more fat, protein, and lactose during suckling their own litter than when suckling aliens. In Study 2, when dams (n = 13) were hand milked in the presence of their own litter or in its absence, they ejected more milk with more fat, protein, and lactose than when milked in the presence of alien kids. We conclude that milk let-down in goats can be influenced by the type of stimuli applied or to which they are exposed to during suckling and milking.     

母鹿饲喂益生素效果初报

选取产仔前母鹿 30头在试验组饲料中添加益生素每次 2g/头。结果表明 ,加喂益生素后 ,不仅改善了母鹿胃肠内的菌群 ,增加有益菌的数目 ,增强了母鹿体质 ,而且提高了断乳仔鹿生长的各项指标     

Genetic and phenotypic aspects of early reproductive performance in Raeini Cashmere goats

This study used pedigree information and data collected from 1979 to 2012 at the Raeini Cashmere goat breeding station, located in Baft City in Kerman Province in southeastern Iran. Genetic and phenotypic parameters for early reproductive traits of breeding does, including total numbers of kids born at first kidding (LSB1), total numbers of kids weaned at first kidding (LSW1), total birth weight of all kids born at first kidding (LWB1), total weaning weight of all kids weaned at first kidding (LWW1), and age at first kidding (AFK), were estimated using a Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling. Posterior means for heritability estimates of LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, LWW1, and AFK were statistically significant, with values of 0.12, 0.23, 0.17, 0.15, and 0.46, respectively. Low-to-moderate additive genetic variation was present for the studied reproductive traits. Estimated genetic correlations among LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, and LWW1 were statistically significant and ranged from 0.12 between LWB1 and LWW1 to 0.72 between LSB1 and LSW1. Corresponding phenotypic correlation estimates were also statistically significant and ranged from 0.04 between LWB1 and LWW1 to 0.55 between LSB1 and LSW1. Posterior means of genetic and phenotypic correlations between AFK and other studied traits were statistically significant only for LSB1 and LWB1. For LSB1, LSW1, LWB1, and LWW1, we conclude that genetic and phenotypic improvement in any of these traits in Raeini Cashmere does would favorably influence all of the other traits. However, does that first kidded at younger ages have smaller litters at birth and lower litter birth weights at their first parity.

     

Effects of flushing and hormonal treatment on reproductive performance of Iranian Markhoz goats

Forty‐eight Iranian Markhoz goats were allocated to six groups (n = 8) to study the effect of flushing and hormonal treatments on reproductive performance. Treatments were divided into two categories including, hormonal treatments and flushing. The goats in each group were fed the same basal ration and received one of the following treatments: Groups A and B – injection of GnRH and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) respectively; Groups C, D and E – a supplement of barley grain, soybean oil and sunflower oil in flushing diets, respectively, were offered and Group F – control (only received basal diet). In the flushing treatments, only the source of energy was different between rations. Both hormonal treatments and flushing treatments improved fertility and kidding rates. Treatment B with 16 and control with seven kids represented the highest and the lowest number of progeny respectively. Among flushing treatments, group C resulted in the highest number of kids being 15. Oestrogen levels in follicular phase increased with the injection of eCG and consumption of barley grain. GnRH injection and consumption of oil sources in the diet increased blood progesterone levels during ovulation and post‐ovulation periods. Under current market conditions, using hormone or flushing can be profitable for Markhoz goats farmers.     

过瘤胃胆碱对黔北麻羊瘤胃发酵及血浆生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究过瘤胃胆碱(RPC)对成年黔北麻羊瘤胃发酵及血浆生化指标的影响。以体况良好,年龄、体重[(35.0±1.2)kg]一致的成年黔北麻羊6只为试验动物,分为对照组和试验组,每组3个重复,每个重复1只羊。采用交叉试验设计,对照组饲喂基础饲粮,不含RPC;试验组补饲10 g/d的RPC。试验持续30 d,分2期,每期15 d;每期最后1 d采集瘤胃液测定p H、氨态氮浓度、微生物蛋白产量、挥发性脂肪酸(乙酸、丙酸、丁酸)浓度、纤维素酶(微晶纤维素酶、羧甲基纤维素酶、纤维二糖酶、木聚糖酶)活性,同时采血测定血浆葡萄糖、尿素氮、总蛋白、白蛋白、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、肌酐浓度。结果显示:1)RPC对山羊采食速度没有影响,对采食量没有显著影响(P0.05);2)RPC对瘤胃液p H、氨态氮浓度、微生物蛋白产量、挥发性脂肪酸浓度及4种纤维素酶活性影响较小,2组间差异均不显著(P0.05);3)RPC对血浆生化指标影响较小,2组间差异均不显著(P0.05)。由此可见,补饲10 g/d的RPC对成年黔北麻羊的采食量、瘤胃发酵参数和血浆生化指标没有显著影响。     

Productivity of Angora goats in the communal rangelands of Molimo-Nthuse area in Lesotho

Production parameters were determined for kidding, offtake and mortality rates, and milk production and composition of Angora goats in two communal agro-ecological zones, Mountains and Lowlands, of Molimo-nthuse area in Lesotho. True incidence rates and risk rates as used in dynamic populations were used to calculate the different production parameters. A completely randomized design was used to compare the differences between the two agro-ecological zones. Angora goats in the two agro-ecological zones produced milk similarly (p > 0.05) in amounts and composition. There were no significant (p> 0.05) differences in annual kidding, mortality and offtake rates between Angora goats kept in the Lowlands and those in the Mountains. However, high mortality rates and mortality risk rates were observed in both zones. Thus, the risk rates that suckling Angora goats would die within their first 6 months after birth were 28% and 34% for the Mountains and Lowlands, respectively. It is suggested that future emphasis should be on reducing kid mortality through better herding of the goats and improvement of pre- and post-partum nutrition of the doe in this communal livestock farming system.     

Behaviour of crossbred does and their kids at parturition under extensive and intensive conditions

Data from 82 kiddings from mixed-breed (native x dairy goats) goats reared on rangeland (n = 47) or confinement (n = 35) were used to determine the influence of various factors on length of labour, standing of newborn kids and time to first suckling in pluriparous goats. Both groups were mated at the same time to bucks of the same genotype in February. During the kidding time in July, the goats were monitored for 24 h in order to register parturition traits and kid birth weight and body measurements. For all goats, blood samples were collected at parturition in order to establish the nutritional state of goats. Grazing goats had lower body weight and body condition score (P < 0.01) than pen-fed goats, as well as lower values for some blood metabolites indicative of low body energy reserves. For both grazing and pen-fed goats, the majority of kiddings (>93%) occurred during daylight hours. No kiddings were registered from 2300 to 0500 hours. No effects of height at withers, thoracic circumference and sex of kids at birth were found to influence length of labour. Labour was shorter (P < 0.01) for pen-fed does than grazing goats (10.6 ± 1.18 min vs. 15.4 ± 1.2 min; mean ± SD). The length of parturition was considerably longer (P < 0.05) for twin-bearing does than for single-bearing does (16.6 ± 1.76 min vs. 11.2 ± 0.81 min, respectively). The interval between parturition and standing of kids was shorter (P < 0.05) for kids from litters weighing >3.3 kg (entire litter) than kids from litters with <3.3 kg (22.7 ± 1.82 min vs. 31.1 ± 2.76 min). Time to first suckling was longer (P < 0.05) for kids delivered from pen-fed does than kids from grazing does (57.8 ± 7.57 min vs. 42.9 ± 3.05 min). These results confirm that, independently of type of production system (intensive or extensive), kiddings of does are concentrated during daylight hours. These results also indicate that conformation of kids does not alter duration of labour, and that nutritional stress of goats during gestation (extensive conditions) does not interfere with the neonate’s level of alertness and arousal.     

Contents of the glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT4 in oxidative and glycolytic muscles of goat kids and adult goats

The objective of this study was to elucidate, whether the impaired insulin sensitivity with regard to glucose utilisation in ruminating goats compared with suckling goat kids may be due to a reduced expression of the glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT4 in skeletal muscle. Muscle samples were removed from red, oxidative muscles (M. masseter, diaphragm) and white, glycolytic muscles (M. longissimus dorsi, and M. semitendinosus) of five goat kids fed with milk exchanger and nine adult goats of different stages of life. Samples were analysed for their GLUT1 and GLUT4 contents. The muscles were characterised metabolically by measuring the activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) and of lactate dehydrogenase. In all four analysed muscles the GLUT4 contents of adult goats were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than in goat kids. Significant differences concerning the GLUT4 contents in skeletal muscles were not detected in adult goats of different stages of life. The GLUT1 contents differed to a lower extend between goat kids and adult goats. The results of this investigation indicate that the impaired insulin sensitivity of adult compared with suckling ruminants is accompanied by or leads to a decreased GLUT4 expression.     

Reproductive and health traits among Boer, Kiko, and Spanish meat goat does under humid, subtropical pasture conditions of the southeastern United States

Boer (n = 132), Kiko (n = 92), and Spanish (n = 79) straightbred does were studied across 6 yr to assess doe fitness on southeastern US pastures. Does were exposed to Boer, Kiko, and Spanish bucks in a complete 3-breed diallel mating scheme each fall for spring kidding in March or May. A total of 1,041 doe-yr units were observed with does (ranging from 2 to 8 yr of age) managed together in a semi-intensive manner. The proportion of buck-exposed does delivering at least 1 live kid was less (P < 0.01) for Boer does (80%) than for Kiko (96%) and Spanish does (94%). Litter size and litter weight at birth were not affected (P > 0.15) by breed of dam. By weaning at 3 mo, the proportion of available does weaning at least 1 kid was less (P < 0.01) for Boer does (53%) than for Kiko (84%) and Spanish does (82%). For does weaning kids, litter size at weaning was greater (P = 0.01) for Spanish does (1.74 kids) than for Kiko (1.59 kids) and Boer does (1.47 kids). Litter weaning weight was lighter (P < 0.01) for Boer dams (23.0 kg) than for Kiko (27.2 kg) and Spanish dams (26.5 kg). The efficiency ratio of litter weight to dam weight at weaning differed (P < 0.05) among all 3 dam breeds: Boer = 51%; Kiko = 62%; Spanish = 68%. Annual rates of lameness, endoparasitism, and attrition, respectively, were greater (P < 0.01) for Boer does (69, 53, and 28%) than for Kiko (32, 24, and 10%) and Spanish does (42, 22, and 11%). Postpartum fecal egg counts for endoparasite loads were less (P < 0.05) for Spanish dams (346 eggs/g) than for Kiko (524 eggs/g) and Boer does (675 eggs/g). Whole-herd annual doe productivity based on all available does was less (P < 0.01) for Boer does (11.7 kg weaned/doe) compared with Kiko (22.0 kg weaned/doe) and Spanish does (21.1 kg weaned/doe). Boer does expressed substantially decreased levels of fitness compared with Kiko and Spanish does when semi-intensively managed on humid, subtropical pasture. Kiko and Spanish should be preferred as maternal breeds in meat goat production systems under conditions reflective of this study.     

Effect of dietary biotin supplementation on sow reproductive performance and soundness and pig growth and mortality

A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary biotin supplementation on the reproductive performance of 90 sows and gilts, and on the pre-weaning growth and mortality of 223 litters. Corn-soybean meal-based diets supplemented with either 0 or 440 micrograms/kg d-biotin were fed to sows throughout their reproductive cycle. Biotin supplementation had no beneficial effect (P greater than .10) on 107-d sow weight, sow weight at weaning, weaning to estrus interval, foot lesion score, hair loss score, structural soundness score, number of pigs born, number and percentage of pigs born alive or number and percentage of pigs alive at 21 d of age. Biotin supplementation had no effect (P greater than .10) on pig growth or mortality to 21 d of age. These data do not support the concept that biotin supplementation of sow diets is needed.