Effects of level of feed intake on body weight, body components, and mohair growth in Angora goats during realimentation

Abstract

Sixteen Angora wethers (14 months of age and 33 ± 1.3 kg BW) consumed a 14.7% CP, 70% concentrate diet for 40 days at 51%, 65%, 83%, and 100% of ad libitum intake (severe restriction, moderate restriction, low restriction, and ad libitum intake, respectively), followed by 41 days of realimentation with ad libitum consumption, to evaluate mohair growth and BW change. BW change in the last 21 days of the realimentation phase increased linearly ( p = 0.07) as the level of feed intake during the restriction phase decreased (87, 31, 36, and 14 g/day for severe restriction, moderate restriction, low restriction, and ad libitum intake, respectively SE 23.6). Clean fiber growth rate in the last 20 days of the restriction phase decreased linearly ( p = 0.08) as level of feed intake decreased (15.2, 16.0, 15.8, and 18.1 g/day for severe restriction, moderate restriction, low restriction, and ad libitum, respectively; SE 0.99), as also occurred ( p = 0.07) in the last 21 days of the realimentation phase (14.7, 13.2, 17.1, and 17.2 g/day for severe restriction, moderate restriction, low restriction, and ad libitum intake, respectively; SE 1.30). BW change and clean fiber growth rate within the latter period of restriction or realimentation phases were not correlated ( p > 0.10). In conclusion, the level of feed intake can have a more prolonged effect on mohair growth than BW change.