periparturient growth performance of Ganjam goat in extensive system

Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate the impact of concentrate supplementation to the pregnant Ganjam goats on their growth performance in periparturient period. 
 
Materials and Methods: A total of 45 pregnant Ganjam does of similar body weight, age and parity were divided into three treatment groups with 15 does in each. T1 : normal browsing at range system, T2 : normal browsing with concentrate supplementation @ 200g/day, T3 : normal browsing with concentrate supplementation @ 300g/day for 60 days before expected date of kidding. Observations regarding various growth performances were made following standard procedures. 
 
Results: Average daily concentrate feed intake for T2 was 160 g and 225 g for T3 . For the does in T1 , the body weights ranged from 34.59 ± 0.75 kg (at the beginning) to 38.29 ± 0.75 kg (after 60 days of supplementation) while for those in T2 it increased from 33.91 ± 0.70 kg to 38.71 ± 0.64 kg and for T3 itranged from 34.05 ± 0.64 to 39.55 ± 0.62 kg. The cumulative live weight gain during the period 0-60 days varied significantly among the different treatments with the lowest value in T1 (3.71 ± 0.27 kg) to highest value in T3 (5.49 ± 0.22 kg) although the initial body weights were same. The cumulative body weight gain during 0- 90 days postpartum was significantly higher in T1 (3.13 ± 0.46 kg) compared to T3 (2.10 ± 0.19 kg). Significant difference in average daily gain during prepartum period was found in all groups as 61.78 ± 4.47, 79.89 ± 2.20, 91.56 ± 3.71 for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The average daily gain of the does during post partum period was 23.33 g (T3 ), 24.30 g (T2 ) and 34.81 g (T1 ) perdoe indicating a statistically significant difference among the treatments. 
 
Conclusion: It is concluded that on supplementation of concentrate between 160 to 225 g improved both prepartum and postpartum body condition of Ganjam goats.


Introduction
nourish the foetus in final stage of pregnancy and consequently birth weight will be compromised [4,5]. In India goats are called as "poor man's cow". The Rapid rate of foetal growth during the final 6-8 weeks goats distributed throughout the country are divided of pregnancy imposes a metabolic challenge to the doe into five major zones viz. Temperate Himalayan which is met by the mobilisation of maternal body Region, Dry North Western Region, Central Region, tissue [6] and this may result in weight loss of doe if the Southern Region and Eastern Region. Ganjam goat is dietary supply of nutrients is inadequate [5][6][7][8][9]]. An widely distributed in the whole of Ganjam district unscientific approach to animal feeding during pregnancy along with parts of Gajapati. This breed has been a may lead to reproductive wastage resulting from either major source of livelihood of Golla tribe since abortion or neonatal death due to low birth weight generations and therefore also known as 'Golla goats'.
resulting from malnutrition of pregnant does [10-12]. These goats are reared under extensive system of Supplemental feeding might be a possible way to management without any supplementary feed. Nearby overcome the above situation. range and forest land mostly serve as the feed source Pre-partum feeding is aimed at higher birth for these goats. Concentrate supplementation to goat at weights, lower kid mortality and higher growth rate of various stages enhance their performances [1][2][3].
the kids. Maintenance of good health of does ensures Particularly, in mid pregnancy, the nutrient requiregood supply of nutrients to the kids both during ments of foetus are still low, but placenta must grow at pregnancy and preweaning period. Some encouraging this time and if growth of placental tissue is restricted results have been obtained by many workers by by low plane of nutrition, it will be unable to adequately prepartum supplementation [13-15].
Considering the above facts in mind the present study was undertaken to study the effect of balanced concentrate supplement to the pregnant Ganjam does in late gestation on their body weight gain. The individual body weight of the does was km away from the College of Veterinary Science and recorded at the beginning of the experiment and Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar. These areas are subsequently at 15 days intervals in the morning hours dominated by 'Golla' people, who rear Ganjam goats before feeding and watering consecutively for 2 days traditionally in large number in range system. The and average weight was taken on 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 animals selected were from the flocks of registered days of experimental feeding (prepartum) and 0, 15, goat farmers of the project. The average daily concentrate feed intake per does each and kept in different feeding regimens as does in treatment group 2 was found to be 160 g out of follows 200 g daily supplementation while for treatment 3 it Treatment -1 (T ): Control; normal browsing at range was 225 g/doe/day out of 300 g concentrate supple-1 system mentation.

Treatment -2 (T ): Control plus daily supplementation
The mean prepartum body weights for the does in 2 three different groups measured at 15 days interval are @ 200 g concentrate presented in Figure-1. The initial body weights of the Treatment -3 (T ): Control plus daily supplementation 3 pregnant does were non-significantly different @ 300 g concentrate (ranging from 33.91 ± 0.70 to 34.59 ± 0.75 kg) as the The concentrate mixture was fed to the does 60 does were selected according to their body weight, age days before the expected date of kidding. The and parity. The body weights of the does in the three ingredient composition of the concentrate mixture treatment groups increased with the advancement in contained Maize, Groundnut oil cake, Rice polish, pregnancy till parturition reaching the final body Wheat bran, Mineral mixture and Common salt in 40, weight ranging from 38.29 ± 0.75 kg (T ) to 39.55 ± 26, 10,22,1.5 and 0.5 respectively. This concentration 1 0.62 kg (T ) after 60 days of concentrate mixture contained 22% crude protein (estimated) with 3 72% Total Digestible Nutrients (calculated). Five days supplementation. For the does in Treatment 1, the body adaptation period for concentrate feeding was provided weights ranged from 34.59 ± 0.75 kg (at the beginning) to the treatment groups. At the time of concentrate to 38.29 ± 0.75 kg (after 60 days of supplementation) feeding in very early morning, the goats were separated while for those in Treatment 2 it increased from 33.91 ± during this period as the growth of placental tissue is 3 restricted by low plane of nutrition as a result it will be The does in treatment 2 and 3 showed higher body unable to adequately nourish the foetus in final stage of weights than those in treatment 1 in every 15 days pregnancy and consequently the birth weight will be interval till kidding although the difference was found compromised [4,5]. Rapid rate of foetal growth during to be statistically non-significant.
the last 6-8 weeks of gestation imposes a metabolic The cumulative live weight gains of does during challenge to the doe which is met by the mobilization of prepartum period in different treatments are presented maternal body tissue [6]. This may result in weight loss in Table-1. There is no statistically significant of does if the dietary supply of nutrients is inadequate. difference among the different treatments up to 30 days Several authors have concluded that last month of after concentrate supplementation. This might be due gestation is the period of rapid foetal growth to less intake of concentrate during this period as the necessitating supplementation of pregnancy allowance animals were not accustomed to concentrate feeding.
to economize production and minimize reproduction The cumulative live weight gain of does was loss in goats [15,19]. But, earlier study [20] revealed significantly higher in Treatment 3 (3.20 ± 0.35 kg) that for economic animal production it may not be during 0-45 days after supplementation than Treatment necessary to feed pregnant goats a high concentrate 1 (2.19 ± 0.21 kg). The cumulative live weight gain ration throughout the gestation period, but they should during the period 0-60 days varied significantly among not be under fed between 61-120 days of pregnancy. the different treatments with the lowest value in The present finding is not in agreement with earlier Treatment 1 (3.71 ± 0.27 kg) to highest value in study [21], who reported non-significant difference in Treatment 3 (5.49 ± 0.22 kg) although the initial body the performance of adult and their off-springs among weights were same. The present findings indicate that the pregnant does given no concentrate or different the does in Treatment 1 were not able to meet their amount of concentrate before parturition. nutrient requirements exclusively from browsing and The postpartum body weight of does at 15 days to meet the nutrient requirements for pregnancy; they interval and cumulative live weight gain during might have mobilized their body reserve resulting in postpartum period are presented in Figure 2 and Table low body weights. The average daily gain of the does 2, respectively. The postpartum weight of does on the varied significantly among the different treatments day of kidding ranged from 34.61 kg (Treatment 2) to during the prepartum period ranging from 61.78 g per 34.92 kg (Treatment 3). The loss of body weight in day (Treatment 1) to 91.56 g per day (Treatment 3). different treatments was respectively 3.44, 4.10 and The higher body weight attained by the does in 4.63 kg in Treatment 1, 2 and 3 from the prepartum Treatment 2 and 3 might be attributed to the body weight of the does after 60 days of concentrate supplementation of balanced concentrates in these supplementation. The current results are comply with groups. The present finding is in agreement with the the previous claims adapted by [4] who authenticated report of the earlier worker [17,18] who reported a that supplementation increases the weight of foetus and significant difference in the average body weight gain more weight loss is obvious for the supplemental in different treatments due to supplementation of groups. concentrate mixture during the last 2 months of The cumulative body weight gain during 0-90 gestation. In mid pregnancy the nutrient requirements  for optimum production under extensive system of 11. Patra, A.K., Sharma, K., Dutta, N. and Pattanaik, A.K. (2006) management.
Effect replacement of dietary protein by a leaf meal mixture on nutrient utilization by goats in pre and late gestation.