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Title: EFFECT OF TWO LEVELS OF CORN-BASED SUPPLEMENTATION ON FORAGE INTAKE, GROWTH, AND BLOOD PARAMETERS IN BOER- AND KIKO-SIRED CROSSBRED KIDS

Author
item WILDEUS, S - VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Turner, Kenneth
item COLLINS, J - VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2004
Publication Date: 7/26/2004
Citation: Wildeus, S., Turner, K.E., Collins, J.R. 2004. Effect of two levels of corn-based supplementation on forage intake, growth, and blood parameters in boer- and kiko-sired crossbred kids. Journal of Animal Science. 82(1):356.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Meat goat production in the U.S. extensively uses the Boer breed in crosses with landrace goat breeds (i.e. Spanish) or dairy (i.e. Nubian) to take advantage of their meat-type conformation and heterosis derived from crossbreeding. The Kiko meat goat was recently introduced into the U.S. as an alternative to the Boer meat goat. Research information is needed on performance of the Kiko crossbreds compared to Boer crossbreds used in meat goat finishing systems. Feed intake, growth, live grade, and blood metabolites were measured in 32 Boer (B) and Kiko (K)-sired intact male kids from Spanish (S) and Myotonic (M) dams, offered tall fescue hay (15.3% CP, 56.1% NDF, 37.9% ADF, 45.2% IVTD) and supplemented with a corn/soybean meal/whole cottonseed concentrate (16% CP) at either 2% or 3% BW. Kids were allocated to 6 pens (3 pens/supplement level) stratified by breed type and fed for 98 d. Total DMI by pen was lower for 2% than 3% supplementation in the beginning of the trial (4.21 vs. 3.55% BW), but decreased, and was not different between groups in middle and end of the trial (treatment x time on trial; P < 0.01). Forage DMI was greater (P < 0.001) for 2% than 3% supplementation throughout the experiment (1.46 vs. 0.79% BW) and was reduced (P < 0.001) in both groups in the middle and end of the trial. ADG and final BW were lower (P < 0.001) at 2% (101 g/d; 25.0 kg) than 3% (137 g/d; 28.4 kg) supplementation, but not affected by sire or dam breed. Kids supplemented at 2% BW had higher (P < 0.01) blood concentrations (mg/dl) of urea nitrogen (21.3 vs. 19.3) and lower (P<.001) glucose (63.1 vs. 72.1) compared to those supplemented at 3% BW; creatinine being similar. Supplement level had no affect on live grade, but B-sire kids scored higher (P < 0.05) than K-sired kids, and kids from M scored higher (P < 0.05) than kids from S. B-sired kids had higher (P < 0.001) blood concentrations of urea nitrogen (21.7 vs. 19) and creatinine (0.63 vs. 0.57) and lower (P < 0.01) glucose (65.9 vs. 69.2) compared to K-sired kids. Kids from M dams had higher (P < 0.05) blood creatinine levels than kids from S dams. Data suggest that sire breed impacted live grade and blood metabolites. Animals receiving the 3% level of supplementation grew faster, but incomplete consumption towards the of the trial would suggest that a maximum level of energy supplementation for finishing goats was between 2 and 3% BW.