Effects of different management practices on preweaning and early postweaning growth of Alpine kids

Two sets of 40 dairy goat Alpine kids (3-9 days of age) were used to determine effects of group versus individual pens, preweaning access to forage and different milk feeding restriction regimens on preweaning and early postweaning growth. Treatments in the first experiment were: C1: individual pens; C2: two kids per pen; P: group pen; and PF: P plus free access to alfalfa hay. Treatment did not affect ADG gain in the 8-week preweaning phase (167, 173, 167 and 168g per day; S.E.=4.5) or in week 1-12 (137, 134, 149 and 128g per day for C1, C2, P and PF, respectively; S.E.=6.7). Treatments in the second experiment were: AL: ad libitum milk intake with two meals in week 3-8, then 50% of intake on the preceding few days with one meal in week 9-10; R-1X and R-2X: 75% of intake on the last few days of week 2 with one or two meals, respectively, in week 3-8, then, 50% intake with one meal in week 9-10; and R-2X-1X: 75% intake with two meals in week 3-6, then 37.5% intake with one meal in week 7-10. Milk DM intake in week 1-10 was greatest (P<0.05) among treatments for AL (174, 115, 128 and 113g per day for AL, R-2X, R-1X and R-2X-1X, respectively). Starter diet DM intake (g per day) was 51, 78, 72 and 143 in week 7-8 (S.E.=16); 138, 194, 165 and 249 in week 9-10 (S.E.=15); 343, 396, 388 and 417 in week 11-12 (S.E.=47); and 508, 530, 489 and 539 in week 13-14 (S.E.=38) for AL, R-2X, R-1X and R-2X-1X, respectively. ADG (g per day) was 139, 120, 119 and 131 in week 1-10 (S.E.=7) and 105, 109, 123 and 117 in week 11-14 (S.E.=16) for AL, R-2X, R-1X and R-2X-1X, respectively. In conclusion, although group pens and forage access may not enhance ADG of artificially reared dairy goat kids by promoting early dry feed consumption restricted feeding regimens can yield preweaning and early postweaning ADG comparable to ad libitum milk intake. Also, feeding milk in restricted amounts once daily appears feasible, and a second reduction in milk intake in the latter part of the suckling phase may further stimulate dry feed intake.