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

Small Ruminant Research 41 (2001) 109±116

Effects of different management practices on preweaning and early postweaning growth of Alpine kids A.L. Goetsch*, G. Detweiler, T. Sahlu, L.J. Dawson Langston University, E (Kika) de la Garza Institute for Goat Research, Langston, OK 73050, USA Accepted 24 April 2001

Abstract 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 ®rst 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 168 g per day; S:E: ˆ 4:5) or in week 1±12 (137, 134, 149 and 128 g per day for C1, C2, P and PF, respectively; S:E: ˆ 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 113 g 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: ˆ 16); 138, 194, 165 and 249 in week 9±10 (S:E: ˆ 15); 343, 396, 388 and 417 in week 11±12 (S:E: ˆ 47); and 508, 530, 489 and 539 in week 13±14 (S:E: ˆ 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: ˆ 7) and 105, 109, 123 and 117 in week 11±14 (S:E: ˆ 16) for AL, R2X, R-1X and R-2X-1X, respectively. In conclusion, although group pens and forage access may not enhance ADG of arti®cially 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. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Dairy goats; Arti®cial rearing; Feed intake; Milk

1. Introduction A concern of many goat producers is feeding management in the ®rst few months of life for kids removed from does soon after birth. Dairy goat does are typically not allowed to nurse kids, either to *

Corresponding author. Tel.: ‡1-405-466-3836; fax: ‡1-405-466-3138. E-mail address: [email protected] (A.L. Goetsch).

prevent transfer of potential diseases such as caprine arthritis encephalitis (Lu and Potchoiba, 1988), or to make the milk available for human consumption. Also, suboptimal mothering ability or milk production by high ®ber- and meat-producing goats can result in orphan kids, often twins and triplets (Sahlu et al., 1992). A number of factors may in¯uence performance of kids arti®cially reared on milk or milk replacer, among which is the social environment. Many kids are maintained individually in small pens,

0921-4488/01/$ ± see front matter # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 9 2 1 - 4 4 8 8 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 2 0 7 - 3

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without direct contact with other kids. Group versus individual pens could affect the process of adapting to feeds, and group pens for young ruminants require less labor than individual pens (Kung et al., 1997). Current management systems do not facilitate rapid transition at weaning from milk replacer or milk to dry feed. In some instances, milk replacer is offered at relatively high levels (e.g. ad libitum) for much of the preweaning period, which may retard the kids interest in and consumption of dry feeds. Thus, restricting liquid feed consumption might increase dry feed intake preweaning and also in the early postweaning period. Dry feed consumption is important for promoting volatile fatty acid production, which stimulates ruminal epithelium development (Van Soest, 1994). Similarly, exposure to ®brous feed-stuffs during the suckling phase also might be important, through potential impact on development of the musculature of the reticulo-rumen. Therefore, objectives of the study were to determine effects of group versus individual pens, preweaning access to forage and different milk feeding restriction regimens on performance of Alpine kids in preweaning and early postweaning periods. 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Experiment 1 Twenty females (3:6  0:09 kg BW) and 20 male dairy goat Alpine kids (4:0  0:10 kg BW) at 3±9 days of age were randomly assigned to four treatments over a 4-week period. In addition to the 40 experimental kids, other older kids previously trained to suckle were used as suckling trainers for three of the four treatments. Kids were removed from dams immediately after birth and received colostrum and other standard management practices such as castration via banding at 8 weeks of age. The total length of the experiment was 12 weeks. Pasteurized milk consumption was ad libitum in the ®rst 8 weeks, offered at 07.30 and 15.30 h. Milk was offered in bottles situated upright, with tubing from the nipple located at or near the bottom of the bottle. There was free-choice access to a starter diet (Table 1) in week 2±12. In preparation for weaning, for 6 days in week 9 approximately 50% of milk consumption in week 7±8 was offered in one meal.

Table 1 Starter diet composition Item Ingredient Dehydrated alfalfa pellets Ground corn Wheat middlings Ground oats Soybean meal Blood meal Fish meal Feather meal Molasses Dicalcium phosphate Calcium carbonate Vitamin premixa Trace mineralized saltb Deccoxc Composition Ash, (% DM) NDF, (% DM) ADF, (% DM) ADL, (% DM) CP, (% DM) TDN, (% DM)d ME, Mcal/kg DMd Ca, (% DM)d P, (% DM)d

Experiment 1 (% DM)

Experiment 2 (% DM)

15.00 57.31

15.00 18.00 20.00 20.00 11.01 1.00 1.40 1.00 10.00

16.39 1.00 1.00 1.00 5.00 0.75 1.30 0.50 0.69 0.05 8.1 17.1 14.8 4.5 20.1 77.4 2.90 1.0 0.5

1.54 0.50 0.50 0.05 8.0 29.4 19.8 72.3 2.68 1.0 0.5

a Contained 2200 IU Vitamin A, 1200 IU Vitamin D3 and 2.2 IU Vitamin E per gram. b Contained 95±98.5% NaCl and at least 0.24% Mn, 0.24% Fe, 0.05% Mg, 0.032% Cu, 0.011% Co, 0.007% I and 0.005% Zn. c RhoÃne-Poulenc Inc., Atlanta, GA, 6% decoquinate. d Calculated, NRC (1981).

Treatments consisted of cage rearing with one kid per cage (C1); cage rearing with two kids per cage, one experimental and one trainer (C2); pen or group rearing, with at least two trainers or experimental kids previously trained to suckle present (P); and P conditions with free-choice access to coarsely ground alfalfa hay (PF). Hay intake for PF in week 1±4 was negligible, and averaged 9 and 17 g per day in week 5±8 and 9±12, respectively. C1 kids were housed in 91 cm  91 cm  91 cm cages, and C2 kids resided in 91 cm  182 cm  91 cm cages. Group pens for P and PF treatments were 2:43 m  1:22 m with expanded metal ¯oors. Milk consumption was measured at each meal and BW was determined at 2-week intervals before the morning meal. A small number of

A.L. Goetsch et al. / Small Ruminant Research 41 (2001) 109±116

kids experienced periods of scours for a few days in the suckling period. During the period of treatment for scours with electrolyte solution, milk intakes were not included for determining average intake in the 2-week periods of the experiment. Weekly samples of starter diet were analyzed for DM, ash, CP (AOAC, 1990), NDF, ADF and ADL (®lter bag technique; ANKOM Technology Corp., Fairport, NY, USA). Data were analyzed by General Linear Models procedures of SAS (1990) with a model consisting of treatment, gender and the interaction between treatment and gender. Treatment  gender means were presented when the interaction was signi®cant (P < 0:05). Differences among means were determined by least signi®cant difference with a protected F-test (P < 0:05). 2.2. Experiment 2 Twenty females (3:8  0:15 kg BW) and 20 male dairy goat Alpine kids (4:2  0:16 kg BW) at 3±9 days of age were randomly assigned to four treatments over a 3-week period. Kids were removed from dams immediately after birth and received colostrum and normal management practices as described for Section 2.1. Kids were housed individually in 91 cm  91 cm  91 cm cages used in Experiment 1. The total length of the experiment was 14 weeks, with 10-week suckling and 4-week postweaning periods. A starter diet (Table 1) was offered for ad libitum consumption beginning in week 2. Treatments are described in Table 2. In brief, all kids consumed milk

111

ad libitum in week 1±2 with two meals. One group continued with two meals and ad libitum consumption from week 3±8 (AL), whereas milk for R-1X and R-2X kids was restricted to 75% of intake on the last few days of week 2 with one or two meals, respectively. R-2X-1X kids were treated the same as R-2X kids in week 3±6, although in week 7±10 one-half of this amount of milk was fed in one meal daily. In week 9±10, AL kids received approximately one-half of the milk they had been consuming in the last few days of week 8, and R-1X and R-2X kids were fed 67% of the milk they had been receiving in week 3±8 with one meal. Milk consumption was measured at each meal. An appreciable number of kids experienced periods of scours typically lasting 3±6 days. As in Section 2.1, milk consumption on these days was ignored in computing average milk consumption in 2-week periods. Two female kids died during the experiment from scours, and all data from these animals were omitted from analyses. Consumption of starter diet was negligible in week 2 and was measured daily thereafter. BW was determined before the morning meal every 2 weeks. For determining milk and total DM intakes, an average concentration of total solids in milk produced during this time (10.8%, with 3.3% fat; Goetsch et al., 2001) was employed. Weekly samples of starter diet were analyzed for DM, ash, CP and NDF as noted for Section 2.1. Data were analyzed by General Linear Models procedures of SAS (1990), ®rst with a model consisting of treatment, gender and the interaction between

Table 2 Treatment description (Experiment 2) Week

Item

Treatment AL

R-2X

R-1X

R-2X-1X

1±2

Number of meals Level of milk

2 Ad libitum

2 Ad libitum

2 Ad libitum

2 Ad libitum

3±6

Number of meals Level of milk

2 Ad libitum

2 75% ad libituma

1 75% ad libituma

2 75% ad libituma

7±8

Number of meals Level of milk

2 Ad libitum

2 75% ad libituma

1 75% ad libituma

1 37.5% ad libituma

9±10

Number of meals Level of milk

1 50% ad libitumb

1 50% ad libituma

1 50% ad libituma

37.5% ad libituma

a b

Percentage of ad libitum consumption on the last few days of week 2. Percentage of ad libitum consumption on the last few days of week 8.

112

A.L. Goetsch et al. / Small Ruminant Research 41 (2001) 109±116

treatment and gender. The interaction was nonsigni®cant (P > 0:05) for all variables and, thus, was removed. Differences among means were determined by least signi®cant difference with a protected F-test (P < 0:05). 3. Results 3.1. Experiment 1 There were no interactions between treatment and gender except for milk intake in week 5±6 (Table 3). Apart from differences among individual gender-treatment means in week 5±6, treatment did not affect milk intake. ADG during the preweaning phase was similar among treatments in all 2-week periods; however, in week 11±12 ADG was greater (P < 0:05) for P versus PF, with intermediate (P > 0:05) values for C1 and C2. In the 4-week postweaning period, ADG was

greater (P < 0:05) for P than for both C2 and P4. In the entire 12-week experiment ADG was not in¯uenced by treatment. Ratios of ADG:milk intake were similar among treatments. Milk intake was similar between genders (Table 3). ADG was greater (P < 0:05) for males than for females in week 3±4, 1±8, 11±12 and 1±12. Likewise, the ratio of ADG:milk intake was greater (P < 0:05) for males versus females in week 1±8. 3.2. Experiment 2 Milk intake in week 3±4 for R-1X and R-2X-1X was slightly greater than the anticipated level of 75% of that on the last few days of week 2, perhaps because the upright position of bottles with nipples connected to tubes with ends situated close to the bottom allowed for less milk remaining after the meal when consumption was restricted. Similar milk DM intake for R-2X and R-1X in week 1±8 was as designed (Table 4).

Table 3 Effects of individual versus group con®nement and forage access on performance of arti®cially reared Alpine kids (Experiment 1)a Item

Milk intake (g per day)

Week

1±2 3±4 5±6 7±8 9 1±8

ADG (g per day)

ADG:milk intake (g/kg)

a

Gender

Mean Mean Female Male Mean Mean Mean

Treatmentb

S.E.

C1

C2

P

PF

1184 1794 2078 bc 2050 bc 2207 910 1812

1218 1765 1856 a 2142 c 2210 865 1798

1230 1896 2179 c 2171 c 2266 937 1892

1151 1706 1987 ab 2105 bc 2190 937 1773

Gender

S.E.

Female

Male

62.9 77.9 49.6

1184 1742

1208 1839

44.5 55.1

29.1 20.9 34.8

2221 926 1793

2215 900 1845

20.6 14.8 24.6

1±2 3±4 5±6 7±8 1±8 9±10 11±12 9±12 1±12

Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean

163 199 172 134 167 55 96 ab 75 ab 137

200 169 174 151 173 13 96 ab 54 a 134

178 188 159 144 167 74 149 b 112 b 149

171 180 153 168 168 77 20 a 49 a 128

17.5 12.7 17.5 12.1 4.5 27.9 27.5 16.4 6.7

171 178 a 158 140 160 57 62 a 59 126 a

185 198 b 171 158 178 53 119 b 86 147 b

12.4 9.0 12.4 8.6 3.2 19.7 19.5 11.6 4.8

1±2 3±4 5±6 7±8 1±8

Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean

137 111 84 61 92

164 95 86 68 96

147 99 73 64 89

147 106 74 76 95

13.4 6.8 8.4 5.4 2.8

144 98 78 63 89 a

153 108 81 72 97 b

9.5 4.8 6.0 3.8 2.0

Within a row for treatments and or genders or week grouping, means lacking a common letter differ (P < 0:05). C1: individual con®nement in 91 cm  91 cm  91 cm cages; C2: con®nement of two kids (one in the experiment and another older) in 91 cm  182 cm  91 cm cages; P: group con®nement (with at least two older kids present) in a 2:43 m  1:22 m pen; PF: P plus free access to alfalfa hay. b

A.L. Goetsch et al. / Small Ruminant Research 41 (2001) 109±116

113

Table 4 Effects of different levels of milk intake restriction and number of meals on starter diet intake and growth by arti®cially reared Alpine kids (Experiment 2)a Item

Week

Treatmentb AL

Milk DM intake (g per day)

Starter diet DM intake (g per day)

1±2 3±4 5±6 7±8 9±10 1±10 3±4 5±6 7±8 9±10 11±12 13±14 3±10 11±14 3±14

S.E. R-2X

137 172 177 252 131 174

c c d b b

19 27 51 a 138 a 343 508 59 a 426 181

a a b a a

25 37 78 a 194 ab 396 530 83 a 463 210

b ab c a a

19 25 72 a 165 a 388 489 70 a 439 193

ab b a a a

35 48 143 b 249 b 417 539 119 b 479 238

7.0 8.4 11.2 8.7 5.7 6.3

130 134 120 135 93 122

a

147 152 147 166 102 143

5.9 7.6 15.8 14.8 47.1 38.3 12.2 40.1 20.0

21 24 66 139 310 447 63 379 168

a a a a a a a a

27 45 106 233 462 586 103 524 243

1±2 3±4 5±6 7±8 9±10 11±12 13±14 1±10 11±14 1±14

137 191 c 204 c 304 b 269 343 508 221 426 279

142 142 a 136 a 202 a 287 396 530 182 463 262

139 161 ab 150 ab 220 a 252 388 489 185 439 257

136 175 bc 180 bc 221 a 328 417 539 208 479 285

7.0 9.6 13.1 17.7 28.6 47.1 38.3 11.5 40.1 18.3

130 155 144 201 232 310 447 173 379 231

ADG (g per day)

1±2 3±4 5±6 7±8 9±10 11±12 13±14 1±10 11±14 1±14

163 136 b 114 193 b 87 88 122 139 105 129

173 84 a 56 132 a 154 110 108 120 109 117

175 105 ab 87 134 a 96 129 118 119 123 120

175 133 b 102 107 a 136 109 126 131 117 127

7.9 11.9 20.0 15.6 21.5 22.1 26.9 7.3 15.8 7.2

164 97 66 132 89 98 95 110 96 106

2.84 2.09 a 1.71 a 2.17 a 2.53 2.96 3.67 2.26 3.33 2.72

2.69 2.24 a 1.78 a 2.18 a 2.14 2.90 3.25 2.26 3.10 2.59

18.6 25.7 62.7 c 74.4 c

Male

Total DM intake (g per day)

2.60 2.62 b 2.25 b 2.71 b 2.02 2.30 3.15 2.46 2.73 2.68

11.9 16.2 28.4 ab 56.4 ab

136 140 132 78 79 113

2.56 2.34 ab 1.94 ab 2.07 a 2.62 2.90 3.40 2.38 3.15 2.73

S.E.

Female

3±4 5±6 7±8 9±10

1±2 3±4 5±6 7±8 9±10 11±12 13±14 1±10 11±14 1±14

16.7 22.7 35.5 b 63.5 bc

139 142 125 148 87 128

R-2X-1X

Starter diet DM intake (%)

Total DM intake (% BW)

9.8 13.5 16.4 a 48.4 a

142 117 99 124 94 115

R-1X

Gender

2.73 4.14 5.18 5.13

0.091 0.110 0.114 0.144 0.198 0.271 0.158 0.086 0.197 0.114

a a a a

13.7 16.2 34.2 55.8 a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a

2.67 2.30 1.81 2.14 2.14 2.52 3.30 2.26 2.93 2.57

b b b b b

4.9 5.9 8.0 6.2 4.0 4.4

b b b b b b b b

4.2 5.4 11.2 19.4 33.4 27.1 8.6 28.4 14.2

14.8 22.8 37.4 65.6 147 179 191 272 336 462 586 225 524 310 179 132 113 150 147 120 141 144 131 140

b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b

2.67 2.35 2.02 2.42 2.52 3.01 3.43 2.42 3.26 2.78

1.93 2.93 3.67 3.63 4.9 6.8 9.2 12.5 20.2 33.4 27.1 8.2 28.4 13.0 5.6 8.4 14.2 11.1 15.2 15.7 19.0 5.1 11.2 5.1 0.064 0.078 0.081 0.102 0.140 0.192 0.112 0.061 0.093 0.081

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A.L. Goetsch et al. / Small Ruminant Research 41 (2001) 109±116

Table 4 (Continued ) Item

ADG:DM intake (g/kg)

Week

1±2 3±4 5±6 7±8 9±10 11±12 13±14 1±10 11±14 1±14

Treatmentb

S.E.

AL

R-2X

R-1X

R-2X-1X

1206 702 538 638 290 211 230 628 238 461

1237 593 314 673 541 277 216 667 245 455

1251 648 557 606 346 354 250 649 287 476

1302 750 493 522 423 276 218 636 240 448

44.4 53.5 94.9 59.9 75.0 57.3 51.4 25.2 31.2 17.3

Gender

S.E.

Female

Male

1263 622 429 659 384 308 213 644 253 464

1234 725 522 560 416 251 244 645 252 456

31.4 37.9 67.1 42.4 53.0 40.4 36.3 14.5 22.1 12.3

a

Within a row for treatments and genders, means lacking a common letter differ (P < 0:05). AL: ad libitum consumption of milk with two meals in week 3±8, then 50% of consumption on the preceding few days with one meal in week 9 to 10; R-2X: 75% of intake on the last few days of week 2 with two meals in week 3±8, then 50% consumption (67% of intake in week 3±8) with one meal in week 9±10; R-1X: 75% consumption with one meal in week 3±8, then 50% consumption with one meal in week 9±10; R-2X-1X: 75% consumption with two meals in week 3±6, then 37.5% consumption with one meal in week 7±10. b

However, due to possible errors in estimating restricted levels of intake, milk DM intake was greater for R-1X than for R-2X in week 3±4 and 7±8. Milk DM intake was similar between R-1X and R-2X-1X in week 1±2, 3±4 and 5±6. Milk DM intake in week 3±4, 5±6, 7±8, 9±10 and 1±10 was greatest among treatments for AL (P < 0:05). Milk DM intake was similar among treatments with milk restrictions in week 9±10 and for the entire 10-week preweaning phase. Starter diet DM intake was low and similar among treatments in week 3±4 and 5±6 (Table 4). However, starter diet DM intake was greatest among treatments (P < 0:05) for R-2X-1X in week 7±8 and greater (P < 0:05) in week 9±10 for R-2X-1X than for AL and R-1X. Dietary treatment did not in¯uence starter diet DM intake in the postweaning period (week 11± 12 and 13±14). Treatment did not in¯uence the proportion of total DM intake composed of starter diet in week 3±4 and 5±6 (Table 4). Although, in week 7±8 more DM was consumed as starter diet for R-2X-1X compared with other treatments (P < 0:05). Results for week 9±10 were fairly similar, although the proportion of starter diet had increased for all treatments and means were not signi®cantly different between R-2X-1X and R2X. Total DM intake differed among treatments in week 3±4, 5±6 and 7±8 (Table 4). In week 3±4 and 5±6, total DM intake was similar between R-2X and R-1X and greater (P < 0:05) for AL versus R-2X and R-1X;

total DM intake for R-2X-1X was numerically lower than for AL and numerically greater than for R-2X and R-1X. In week 7±8 total DM intake was greatest among treatments (P < 0:05) for AL. As a percentage of BW total DM intake differed among treatments in week 3±4, 5±6 and 7±8, with differences similar to those in total DM intake as grams per day. ADG was similar among treatments in week 1±2 (Table 4). In week 3±4 ADG was similar for AL and R2X-1X and greater (P < 0:05) than for R-2X. Differences in week 5±6 were generally similar to those in week 3±4 but were not signi®cantly different. ADG in week 9±10, 11±12 and 13±14 were similar among treatments. Ratios of ADG:total DM intake did not differ among treatments. During the experiment, there was a period of approximately 2-week in which scours occurred in an appreciable number of kids. However, the percentage of kids with a degree of sickness necessitating removal from milk while receiving electrolyte treatment was similar among treatments. Milk DM intake was greater (P < 0:05) for males versus females in 2-week periods except for week 9± 10 (Table 4). Males consumed more starter diet than did females in all 2-week periods (P < 0:05) except for week 3±4. The percentage of the total diet composed of starter diet was not different between males and females. Total DM intake was greater (P < 0:05) for males versus females in all 2-week periods. Total DM intake as a percentage of BW was similar between

A.L. Goetsch et al. / Small Ruminant Research 41 (2001) 109±116

males and females. ADG was greater (P < 0:05) for males versus females in week 1±10 and 11±14, with similar differences noted in some but not all 2-week periods. Ratios of ADG:total DM intake did not differ among genders. The percentage of kids with scours necessitating short-term removal from milk was considerable greater (P < 0:05) for females than for males (80% versus 28%; S:E: ˆ 9:7). 4. Discussion 4.1. Experiment 1 Results of Experiment 1 suggest that aspects of housing in individual pens, such as lack of direct contact with other kids, does not adversely impact preweaning performance. Individual pens do allow closer monitoring of kid health, such as fecal consistency; however, labor requirements are generally lower for group housing. The use of trainers already accustomed to bottle-feeding did not have notable bene®cial effects for experimental kids, which may have been in part because young kids quickly learn to suckle bottles. Perhaps use of older kids trained for ready consumption of dry food might facilitate earlier and greater starter diet consumption. Providing access to forage did not enhance early postweaning growth, suggesting that future research attention in the preweaning period should be given to factors in¯uencing early consumption of concentrate-based starter diets. 4.2. Experiment 2 Results of Experiment 2 indicate that with male and female dairy goat kids restricted milk intake regimens can be used effectively. In general, lower preweaning growth with milk restriction can be compensated for in the late suckling period and early weeks postweaning for similar overall growth. Earlier and greater levels of consumption of starter diet appear responsible for this compensation. Regarding differences among the three restriction treatments, ®rst the unanticipated difference in milk intake between R-2X and R-1X makes ®rm conclusions dif®cult. Nonetheless, comparisons of R-1X and R-2X-1X treatments in week 3±6 suggest that one meal per day can be effectively used with milk intake

115

limited to about 75±80% of that in the last few days of the ®rst 2-week period of ad libitum intake. However, a numerically lower starter diet intake in week 3±4 and 5±6 for R-1X versus R-2X-1X with similar milk DM intake suggests a potential lessening of starter diet intake with one meal. Of the three restriction treatments, R-2X-1X may be of particular interest because of the lessening of milk intake and use of once daily feeding in the latter few weeks of the suckling period. This resulted in greatest starter diet intake in grams per day and as a percentage of total DM intake in week 7±8 and tendencies for similar differences in week 9±10. As a result, ADG was numerically greater for R-2X-1X than for AL in week 9±10, 11±12 and 13±14. 5. Summary and conclusions Neither group pens nor providing access to forage (preweaning) appear to hold promise for enhancing growth of Alpine kids. Milk consumption can be moderately restricted without impairment of growth in the preweaning and early postweaning periods compared with ad libitum milk consumption. Furthermore, there also appears potential for effective employment of regimens with only one daily meal of milk, although most appropriate restriction levels deserve further study. Lastly, a second step reduction in milk intake in the latter few weeks of the preweaning phase may be useful in further stimulating dry feed consumption. Acknowledgements Appreciation is expressed to personnel of the farm and laboratory of the E (Kika) de la Garza Institute for Goat Research for their assistance. References AOAC, 1990. Of®cial Methods of Analysis. 14th Edition. Association of Of®cial Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC. Goetsch, A.L., Detweiler, G., Sahlu, T., Puchala, R., Dawson, L.J., 2001. Dairy goat performance with different dietary concentrate levels in late lactation. Small Rumin. Res., accepted for publication.

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Kung Jr., L., Demarco, S., Siebenson, L.N., Joyner, E., Haenlein, G.F.W., Morris, R.M., 1997. An evaluation of two management systems for rearing calves fed milk replacer. J. Dairy Sci. 80, 2529±2533. Lu, C.D., Potchoiba, M.J., 1988. Milk feeding and weaning of goat kids Ð a review. Small Rumin. Res. 1, 105±112. Sahlu, T., Carneiro, H., El Shaer, H.M., Fernandez, J.M., 1992.

Production performance and physiological responses of Angora goat kids fed acidi®ed milk replacer. J. Dairy Sci. 75, 1643± 1650. SAS, 1990. SAS/STAT User's Guide, Version 6, 4th Edition, Vol. 2. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC. Van Soest, P.J., 1994. Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant, 2nd Edition. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 476 pp.