SUPPLEMENTAL RUMEN PROTECTED METHIONINE AND/OR CHOLINE FOR ZARAIBI GOATS: 2- PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF KIDS SUCKLED DAM COLOSTRUM

Abstract

Forty Zaraibi goats with average body weight of 34.64±0.79 kg and 3-4 years old were divided into four similar groups (10 in each). The goats were fed from the last two months of pregnancy till the fifth month of lactation a basal diet containing 0.8 kg concentrate feed mixture, 0.2 kg barley grain and 5.0 kg berseem without additive (control, G1) or with 2 g/head/day rumen protected methionine (RPM, G2) or with 2 g/head/day rumen protected choline (RPC, G3) or 2 g/head/day RPM+ 2 g/head/day RPC (RPM+RPC, G4). After kidding, theproducedkids were left with their dams in pens and allowed to sucke dam colostrum and small amounts of mash concentrate feed mixture, barley grains and berseem during the suckling period for three days.Results revealed thatyieldand components of colostrum were the highest (P<0.05) in G4. Colostrum yieldincreased and its components decreased gradually from 1st to 3rd day after kidding in all groups. Percentages of non-casein and non-protein nitrogen in colostrum decreased (P<0.05), however percentages of albumin, globulin, β-lactoglobulin, calcium, phosphorus and total amino acids increased (P<0.05) with RPM and/or RPC supplementation as compared to control group. Body weight, total and daily weight gain of produced kids were highest (P<0.05) in G4. Concentrations of total protein, albumin and globulin in blood serum were higher (P<0.05) in G4. Kids in G4 showed the lowest percentage of diseases incidence and mortality rate. It could be concluded that supplementing diets of Zaraibi goat does, during the last month of pregnancy up to the suckling period, with 2 g/head/day rumen protected methionine and 2 g/head/day rumen protected choline improved yield and chemical composition of colostrum, which consequently improved growth rate, blood serum proteins, and reduced diseases incidence of their kids suckled colostrums.