Arpan SHARMA, Sandeep KASWAN, S. Siva KUMAR, Jaspal Singh LAMBA

Feeding dynamics and performance of Beetal does in relation to body condition score at the time of mating

The body condition of does at the time of mating may affect feeding patterns and production performance during forthcoming lactation. For investigation, 40 Beetal does available for breeding were utilized, and their body condition score (BCS) was estimated using the visual-cum-palpation method with a 9-point scale (scale of 1=5 with increments of 0.5 point). The available goats were divided into 3 groups: higher BCS (T≥3.0≥3.0_{≥3.0}; n =11), moderate BCS (T2.52.5_{2.5}; n = 8), and lower BCS (T≤2.0≤2.0_{≤2.0}; n = 21) and maintained in 2 random groups (20 each). Beetal goats with higher BCS at breeding time spent significantly (P < 0.01) more time feeding comfortably and less time feeding with difficulty than moderate and lower BCS goats. T2.5 and T≤2.0≤2.0_{≤2.0} goats struggled (displacement and pushing) more at feeders, which included T≤2.0≤2.0_{≤2.0} goats eating from the ground for more time (P < 0.01) than the other groups. T≥3.0≥3.0_{≥3.0} goats had more agonistic interactions (threatening and hitting) toward moderate and lower BCS goats at feeders. Goats with higher BCS at mating had significantly (P < 0.05) higher milk yield during subsequent lactation; however, the composition of the milk did not differ among the groups. Mean disease incidence rate and number of days of disease per goat were significantly (P < 0.01) lesser in the T≥3.0≥3.0_{≥3.0} group than other groups. It was concluded that Beetal goats should not have less than 3.0 BCS at the time of mating for better performance and health status.

Keywords:

Beetal body condition score, feeding dynamics, mating, performance,

PDF

___

Miller DW, Fleming PA, Barne AL, Wickham SL, Collins T, Stockman CA. Behavioural assessment of the habituation of feral rangeland goats to an intensive farming system. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017; 199: 1-8.
Battini M, Vieira A, Barbieri S, Ajuda I, Stilwell G, Mattiello S. Animal-based indicators for on-farm welfare assessment for dairy goats. J Dairy Sci 2014; 97: 6625-6648.
Mendizabal JA, Delfa R, Arana A, Purroy A. Body condition score and fat mobilization as management tools for goats on native pastures. Small Ruminant Res 2011; 98: 121-127.
Collard BL, Boettcher PJ, Dekkers JCM, Petitclerc D, Schaeffer LR. Relationships between energy balance and health traits of dairy cattle in early lactation. J Dairy Sci 2000; 83: 2683-2690.
Wathes DC, Fenwick M, Cheng Z, Bourne N, Llewellyn S, Morris DG, Kenny D, Murphy J, Fitzpatrick R. Influence of negative energy balance on cyclicity and fertility in the high producing dairy cow. Theriogenology 2007; 68 : S232-241.
Diskin MG, Mackey DR, Roche JF, Sreenan JM. Effects of nutrition and metabolic status on circulating hormones and ovarian follicle development in cattle. Anim Reprod Sci 2003; 78: 345-370.
Beam SW, Butler WR. Energy balance and ovarian follicle development prior to the first ovulation postpartum in dairy cows receiving three levels of dietary fat. Biol Reprod 1997; 56: 133-142.
Toscano MJ, Lay DC Jr, Craig BA, Pajor EA. Assessing the adaptation of swine to fifty-seven hours of feed deprivation in terms of behavioral and physiological responses. J Anim Sci 2007; 85: 441-451.
Robert S, Bergeron R, Farmer C, Meunier-Salaun MC. Does the number of daily meals affect feeding motivation and behaviour of gilts fed high-fibre diets? Appl Anim Behav Sci 2002; 76: 105-117.
Solaiman SG. Goat Science and Production. 1st ed. Ames, IA, USA: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers; 2010.
Hillmann E, Hilfiker S, Keil NM. Effects of restraint with or without blinds at the feed barrier on feeding and agonistic behaviour in horned and hornless goats. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014; 57 : 72-80.
Stockman CA, Collins T, Barnes AL, Miller D, Wickham SL, Verbeek E, Fleming PA. Qualitative behavioural assessment of the motivation for feed in sheep in response to altered body condition score. Animal Prod Sci 2014; 54: 922-929.
Fraser AF, Broom DM. Farm Animal Behaviour and Welfare. 3rd ed. London: Bailliere Tindall; 1990.
Shinde A, Verma DL, Singh N. Social dominance–subordinate relationship in a flock of Marwari goats. Indian J Anim Sci 2004; 74: 216-219.
Koyuncu M, Öziş Altınçekiç Ş. Importance of body condition score in dairy goats. Maced J Anim Sci 2013; 3: 167-173.
Hodgkinson O. The importance of feet examination in sheep health management. Small Ruminant Res 2010; 92: 67-71.
Marogna G, Rolesu S, Lollai S, Tola S, Leori G. Clinical findings in sheep farms affected by recurrent bacterial mastitis. Small Ruminant Res 2010; 88: 119-125.
Costa WP, Morais JHG, Peixoto-Junior GNA, Escossia PPL, Moura AKB, Facanha DAE. Correlation analysis between FAMACHA test and body condition score (BCS) in Caninde goats adaptability evaluation. In: Proceedings of XIth International Conference on Goats. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain: IGA; 2012. p. 379.
Loker S, Miglior F, Koeck A, Neuenschwander TFO, Bastin C, Jamrozik J, Schaeffer LR, Kelton D. Relationship between body condition score and health traits in first-lactation Canadian Holsteins. J Dairy Sci 2012; 95: 1-11.
Yilmaz M, Taskin T, Bardakcioglu HE, Loria AD. Effect of body condition score on some blood parameters for anemia level in goats. Vet Zootech-Lith 2014; 67: 41-46.
Susilorini TE, Maylinda S, Surjowardoj P, Suyadi. Importance of body condition score for milk production traits in Peranakan Etawah goats . Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare 2014; 4: 151-157.
Susilorini TE, Maylinda S, Surjowardoj P. Effect of body condition score on milk yield, protein and fat contents in Etawah crossbred dairy coats. In: Proceedings of 1st Asia Dairy Goat Conference. FAO: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2012. pp. 124-126.
Graff KM, Javor A, Kukovics S. The effect of age and body condition score on milk production and reproduction of Saanen goats. In: Proceedings of XIth International Conference on Goats. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain: IGA; 2012. p. 205.
Mushtaq A, Qureshi MS, Khan S, Habib G, Swati ZA, Rahman SU. Body condition score as a marker of milk yield and composition in dairy animals. J Anim Plant Sci 2012; 22: 169- 173.
Cimen M, Topcu H. Effect of body condition score on biochemical milk parameters having economic importance in dairy goat during the first month of postpartum period. Int J Agric Biol 2013; 15: 395-397.
Barbosa LP, Rodrigues MT, Guimaraes JD, Maffili VV, Amorim LS, Neto AFG. Body condition and productive performance of Alpine goat in early lactation. Rev Bras Zootecn 2009; 38: 2137-2143.