Utilization of milk replacers in the rearing of early weaned goats

Abstract

Nineteen 4 day-old crossbred kids, with 3.09 kg average birth-weight, were used to evaluate the effect of milk replacers on the development of early weaned goats. A completely randomized design, with a factorial arrangement
(3x2), was used in the treatments: goats milk (T1), milk replacer with cow milk (T2) and milk replacer with soybean protein (T3), all applied in males and females. A concentrata mixture with 14.0 crude protein and grass hay was used in all treatments. Liquid feed consumption was restricted to a maximum of 1.0 kg/day. Treatment T1 presented significantly higher (P<0.01) daily weight gain (130 g) than T2 (55 g) and T3 (60 g). Liquid feed consumption was similar for all treatments, and final weights were 9.5 kg; 6.6 kg and 6.3 kg (T1, T2 and T3 respectively). Milk replacer was concluded as inferior to goat milk in artificial rearing.