A local supplementary diet improves reproductive performance in does and growth in kids of small East African x Norwegian Landrace Goats

Abstract

In the tropical countries including Tanzania the major and economical feeds for ruminants are natural pastures. Yet, these feeds are oftentimes seasonal and are of poor quality such that they alone cannot meet optimum nutritional requirements for high producing ruminants such as dairy goats. Therefore, it has been adviced to supplement such animals with concentrate to increase production and gain profit. However, commercial concentrates are expensive and are not commonly used by farmers. For this reasons, animals are either not supplemented or are supplemented at very low levels with whatsoever available feeds. We believe that in Tanzania dairy goats are underfed and this situation has negative effects on the animals. We therefore conducted this study in 117 dairy goats (43 does and 74 kids) to confirm our hypothesis on one hand and show how supplementation is not always expensive. The feed was made from ingredients obtained in the local vicinities at a cheap price. These are available all over the country. Data were collected and analyzed using relevant tools and models including weighing, body condition score (BCS) scale and statistical software. Our high level diet was 600 grams (g) of a feed comprising of maize brans, sunflower seed cake and a few mixed minerals. It is common in many farms to provide only 200 g of maize brans. We report better performance for weights and BCS in dairy does fed a high level diet and better growing kids from these animals.

Keywords: Cross breeding, Dairy goats, Indigenous goats, Nutrition, Tanzania