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Effect of bovine colostrum intake on growth, reproductive parameters and survival in red kids
Author(s) -
Abdou H.,
Marichatou H.,
Beckers J.F.,
Dufrasne I.,
Issa M.,
Hornick J.L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/jpn.12143
Subject(s) - colostrum , zoology , weaning , biology , fecundity , reproduction , birth weight , fertility , litter , body weight , weight gain , pregnancy , medicine , endocrinology , population , immunology , antibody , ecology , genetics , environmental health , agronomy
Summary The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of frozen A zawak colostrum supplementation on body weight ( BW ), average daily gain ( ADG ), reproductive parameters (mean age at first parturition, fertility, fecundity, prolificacy) and mortality rate among red kids. The study was conducted at the goat farm secondary centre of M aradi in N iger from S eptember 2010 to S eptember 2011. The control animals ( n = 20) were left with their mother, while the treatment animals ( n = 20) received in addition 50 ml/animal/day of bovine colostrum at birth and 15 ml/animal/day from d2 to d15. Weight was measured weekly from birth to d365. Mortalities were also recorded over the same period. For reproductive parameters, observations began at weaning (d197). Growth rate was higher (p < 0.001) in supplemented animal, and the treatment effects on ADG were observed up to 150 day after the end of supplementation. A similar long‐lasting trend was also observed in relation to the mortality rate (25% for ColG vs. 55% for ConG; p = 0.05). The age at first kidding tended to be lower in the treated group (13.8 ± 0.7 vs. 14.1 ± 0.8 month; p < 0.1). In conclusion, mild bovine colostrum supplementation induces a long‐lasting positive impact on growth rate and to a lower extent on reproduction parameters and survival rate.