Effects of feeding intensity during dry period on performance of dairy goats

Abstract

Two experimental series were carried out with Norwegian dairy goats to study the effects of differences in energy intake during the dry period. Experiment 1 was repeated for 3 years using 107 goats, and experiment 2 was repeated for 2 years with 59 goats. Mature does (second lactation or older) on low energy intake were fed 8% above maintenance level (2.08 ME Mcal/day) for the last 72 days of gestation, and does on high energy intake received 86% above maintenance (3.90 Mcal/day). First-fresheners (kidding at 1 year) on low energy intake (1.71 Mcal/day) were fed 21% above requirements (NRC, 1981), whereas the ones on high intake received 63% above the requirements for maintenance (2.51 Mcal/day). In experiment 2, animals fed levels of 0.4 (H) and 0.1 kg (L) concentrate were compared during months 3 and 4 of gestation with does fed restricted amounts of hay and ad libitum grass silage. For the last 13 weeks of gestation, H and L does received an average of 91% and 77% above maintenance requirements, respectively. High energy levels did not improve performance in the following lactation in any experiment. A moderate feeding intensity (0–20% above maintenance up to 1 month before kidding, increasing gradually to 50–100% above maintenance during the last month of gestation) is recommended for Norwegian conditions.