THE EFFECT OF PROTEIN AND ENERGY-LEVELS DURING LATE PREGNANCY ON NUTRIENT UTILIZATION AND KID BIRTH-WEIGHT GOATS

Eighteen 'Gaddi' goats in a late stage of pregrancy were divided into three groups of six. The control group (A) was fed with a normal protein normal energy diet (NPNE, 100% NRC), group B a high protein high energy diet (HPHE, 115% NRC) and group C a low protein high energy diet (LPHE, 85% protein, 115% energy). Kiuyu grass hay was offered ad libitum throughout the experiment. Vitablend (10 g/qtl. concentrate mixture) was added as a source of Vit. A The experiment was continued till kidding. There were highly significant (P < 0.01) differences in intakes of nutrients amongst the groups. However, the difference in dry matter intake was not significant. Digestibility of dry matter was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the group (B) of animals offered the high protein and high energy diet than in the control (A) group. Similarly the digestibility coefficients of organic matter and crude protein were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in group B than in either groups A or C. This indicates that 15% higher energy and protein levels than the control group ration may have boosted the growth of rumen microbes by enhancing their activity for efficient conversion of organic matter into bacterial biomass. The nitrogen balance was positive and significantly higher in goats of group B than in other groups. The kids attained greater birth weights when their dams were given higher planes of nutrition.