Effects of different feeding methods on growth and harvest traits of young Alpine kids

Abstract

Growth and carcass traits were studied in 30 Alpine wether kids (2 weeks of age) fed with ad libitum (A) or limited (1 kg/day) milk, with (LC) or without (L) ad libitum supplemental concentrate, and slaughtered at 10 or 13 weeks of age. ADG was lowest among dietary treatments for L ( P<0.05), similar between A and LC at 10 weeks, but greater ( P<0.05) for LC at 13 weeks (151, 55 and 149 g/day at 10 weeks, and 110, 49 and 144 g/day at 13 weeks for A, L and LC, respectively). Similar differences were observed in carcass weight (7.0, 3.7 and 6.1 kg at 10 weeks, and 6.8, 4.4 and 7.9 kg at 13 weeks for A, L and LC, respectively; S.E.=0.32). The ratio of kidney and pelvic fat to bone-free muscle was lowest among dietary treatments for L ( P<0.05), similar between A and LC at 10 weeks, and lower for LC vs. A at 13 weeks ( P<0.05; 2.1, 0.5 and 2.0 at 10 weeks, and 2.7, 0.5 and 1.8 at 13 weeks for A, L and LC, respectively). In summary, ADG and slaughter traits at 10 weeks of age were similar for kids consuming milk ad libitum or fed 1 kg/day of milk with supplemental concentrate. However, when slaughter was at 13 weeks, carcass weight was lower and the ratio of internal fat to muscle was greater with ad libitum milk intake compared with limited milk and ad libitum supplemental concentrate.