Assessment of Some Productive and Reproductive Traits of Sudan Desert Goats under Conventional and Supplemented Feeding Systems

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the productive and reproductive performance of Sudanese Desert goats under the traditional management systems with supplemented feed containing different energy levels with iso-nitrogenous protein. Also to investigate the effects of rainy and dry seasons on the productive and reproductive performance of desert goats. Hence, the experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effects of supplemented feed with three different levels of energy and isonitrogenous protein(A,B,C ) compared to unsupplemented feed group (D) on kids performance (birth weight, weaning weight, post-weaning weight and mortality), productive performance (milk yield, lactation period, milk composition and indices of doe productivity) and reproductive performance (kidding interval, gestation length, litter size, post-partum anestrus and puberty). Experiment was also undertaken to determine the effect of season mainly rainy and dry periods on kids performance, productive performance and reproductive performance. Kid's performance analysis demonstrated that the birth weight, weaning weight, post-weaning weight and kid's mortality percentage was positively affected by feeding supplemented groups; high energy (A), medium energy (B) and low energy (C) compared with unsupplemented group (D). Exception with kid's mortality, kid's performance differed significantly (P<0.05). Supplemented feed group containing higher energy (A) secured the highest values compared with unsupplemented group (D). Also, the effect of season (rainy and dry) analysis on the kid's performance was demonstrated. Rainy season compared with dry season differed significantly (P<0.05). Kid's performance of those kidded on rainy season had secured the highest values compared with kid's borned on dry season. XII Reproductive performance of the experimental goats analysis demonstrated that the gestation yield, kidding interval, litter size, post partum anestrus and puberty was affected by feed supplemented groups; high energy (A), medium energy (B) and low energy (C) compared with unsupplemented group (D). Exception with litter size, reproductive performance of experimental goats differed significantly (P<0.05). Supplemented feed group containing higher energy (A) secured the superior values compared with unsupplemented group (D). The effect of season on reproductive performance was also analyzed. Reproductive performance of experimental goats differed significantly (P<0.05). Reproductive performance of experimental goats on rainy season secured the superior values compared with dry season. Productive performance of the experimental goat's analysis demonstrated that the milk yield, lactation period, indices of doe productivity and milk composition was affected by supplemented feed groups compared with unsupplemented group. Productive performance of experimental goats significantly differed (P<0.05). Supplemented feed groups (A, B and C) had the higher values compared with unsupplemented group (D). Also, the effect of season on productive performance of experimental goats differed significantly (P<0.05). Productive performance of experimental goats on rainy season secured higher values compared with dry season. Therefore, it is concluded that feeding supplemented groups; high energy (A), medium energy (B) and low energy (C) compared with unsupplemented group increased birth weight, weaning weight, postweaning weight, milk yield, indices of doe productivity, lactation period and milk composition. Gestation period, kidding interval, post-partum anestrus and puberty were decreased. However, supplementing feed with XIII different energy levels had no affect on kid's mortality and litter size. This study concluded that, the rainy season compared with dry season increased birth weight, weaning weight, post-weaning, litter size, milk yield, indices of productivity, lactation period and milk composition .On the other hand, kid's mortality, gestation period, kidding interval, pospartum anestrus and puberty were positively decreased