Influence of levels of supplementary concentrate mixture on lactation performance of Red Sokoto does and the pre-weaning growth rate of their kids

Twenty pregnant Red Sokoto goats (liveweight, 28 ± 1.30 kg) were used in a completely randomized design to determine the effect of varying levels of concentrate on lactation performance. The concentrate, which contained 4% palm oil, was fed at levels of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% of body weight of the does in addition to a basal diet of Digitaria smutsii hay offered ad libitum. The corresponding dietary treatments were designated as 1.0%C, 1.5%C, 2.0%C and 2.5%C, respectively. The goats were balanced for parity and randomly allocated to give five animals per treatment, and stall-fed individually. The intake of dry matter and daily milk production linearly and quadratically increased (P<0.05) to the levels of concentrate supplementation. Increase in level of concentrate mixture supplementation affected (P<0.05) milk fat content and milk fat yield, but not other milk constituents. Persistency of milk production was numerically higher at higher levels of concentrate supplementation. Whereas 1.0%C, 1.5%C and 2.0%C could not prevent weight loss in the does, the 2.5%C significantly (P<0.05) promoted average daily gain (11.11 g/head/day) during lactation. The dam milk yield significantly (P<0.01) accounted for 61% of variation in kids pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG). It is concluded that concentrate mixture containing 4% palm oil can be fed at 2.5% of body weight without adverse effect on total dry matter intake, while enhancing postpartum weight gains, higher milk yield, persistency of milk production, pre-weaning growth of kids in Red Sokoto goats.