Effect of milk replacer on kid performance among small holder farmers

An experiment was conducted with 15 Black Bengal kids of both sexes (in 3 groups) were fed two different milk replacer using ingredient shotti (T1), skim milk (T2) and no milk replacerkids with mother, termed as control group (T0) at Southern agro trade, Subarnachar, Noakhali. The average total DM intake and milk dry matter intake were not significantly differed among the treatment group. Total dry matter intake was not affected by intake of liquid milk replacer or goat milk. The CP intake were ranged from 19.97 to 20.93 g/d. Total CP intake was not significantly differed among the group but T1 group was slightly higher(0.42 g/d) than T0 and T2. The amount of protein intake (g/d) was followed NRC (1985) recommendation. DMI from concentrate (g/d), DMI from green grass (g/d) and DMI from percent live weight were not significantly differed among the treatment groups. The average daily gain was not significantly (P>0.05) differed among the treatment group. The average growth rate (57.42 – 61.20 g/d) of all kid of Black Begal goat was lower than the Angora goats (115.00-125.00 g/d) and Alpine goats (153.00-258.00 g/d). Dry matter (DM) digestibility (%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher (74.45) in T1 group compare to other groups. CP digestibility was numerically higher in T1 group than other three groups. The digestibility of nutrient depends on physiology of kids, particularly the development and capacity of the digestive tract. The lower growth rate might be genetic characteristics of Black Bengal goat.


Introduction
Milk is an essential feed for newborn kids.The milking period may be lasting only 3-4 weeks or up to 5-6 months (Morland-fehr, 1981;Morland -fehr et al., 1982).Black Bengal goat is highly prolific.Having multiple birth in 70% cases (Devendra and Burns, 1983).The scavenging nature of Black Bengal goats cannot be relied on to produce adequate nutrient for optimum sustainability of kids.Thus it is important to ensure adequate feeding of kids in order to enhance the productivity of stocks.The increasing feed need to minimize the mortality of kids produced by inadequate production of milk by the dam (Awah, 198;Akinsoyinu, 1985;Ayoade, 1987;Ademosun, 1988).Generally the Black Bengal is poor milk producer 108-135g/d (Hussain, 1999).Mother's milk is the ideal food for new born kids.The causes for poor mothering could be nutritional stress or genetic inability to produce milk to support kids (Shelton, 1981).In such cases, orphan twin and triplet kids would be raised successfully using milk replacer.

Location
The present trial was carried out at Southern agro trade, Subarnachar, Noakhali.

Animals and design
Fifteen Black Bengal kids of both sexes at average 15 days of age were used in the milk replacer trial.The kids were suckled their mother since birth until 10±2 days of age, then they were separated from their dams.At beginning of the trial, the individual average body weight (kg) of kid was 1.78±0.30.The kids were housed in an individual pens with a layer of straw bedding.There were three treatments with five replications.The groups were a) kids with mother (T0), b) using ingredient shotti (T 1 ), c) using skim milk (T 2 ).Under T 0 , kids were separated their mother except suckling time.

Feed ingredients and milk replacer preparation
The locally available feed ingredients were used to formulate the milk replacer.The ratio of different ingredient of 100g dry milk replacer was presented in Table 1.100g feed mixed with worm fresh clean water then it was boiled for five minutes and after boiling it was cooled then pour into bottle feeder and fed.Milk replacer was prepared at 100g mixture/1 litre worm water and then boiled it at least five minutes and again cooled at 35-37 0 C, and then it was suckled to the kids.

Feeding and animal management
Kids were suckled five times in a day, 7.00 A.M, 10.00 A.M, 1.00 P.M, 6.00 P.M and 10.00 PM, respectively in a control (T 0 ) group.The others two treatments of milk replacers were fed five times in a day followed by (T 0 ) group.Milk intake was determined by marking scale with bottle feeder before and after drinking.After onset the experiment, the kid starter and soft green grass were provided at 27 th and 36 th days, respectively.Kid starter (CP-26.5% and M/D-11.23)and green grass (DM-20.50;CP-11.28;ADF 24.85 and ash -16.98) were given thrice a day at 7.00A.M., 1.00 P.M and 8.00 P.M, respectively.Kid's weight was recorded weekly before feeding.The sample of milk replacers, kid starter, green grass and refusal were taken during growth and intake trial.On the day 60 of the experiment, metabolism trial was carried out during 4 th days with five animals per group.The faeces and urine were collected every morning before the animals were fed during metabolic period.In order to minimize the loss of nitrogen, 100 ml 6N H 2 SO 4 was added to the bucket for urine collection.The quantity of urine collected for each animal was measured by using a graduated measuring cylinder.The 10% of the bulk was taken and frozen until require for analysis.

Chemical analysis
The compositions of feed sample and faeces, and nitrogen for the urine samples were analyzed by using the AOAC (1995).

Statistical analysis
The result of feed intake, digestibility and growth were analyzed by one way ANOVA using computer software package of SPSS (11.0 versions).

Nutrient intake
The nutrients intake of different group of kids was presented in Table 2.The average total DM intake and milk dry matter intake were not significant among the treatment group.Total dry matter intake was not affected by intake of liquid milk replacer or goat milk.The ranged of crude protein (CP) intake were from 19.97 to 20.93 g/d.Total CP intake was not significant difference among the group but T 1 group was slightly higher than T 0 and T 2 .The amount of protein intake (g/d) was followed NRC (1985) recommendation.The other parameters such as DMI from concentrate (g/d), DMI from green grass (g/d) and DMI from percent live weight were not significantly different with the treatment groups.

Live weight change and feed conversion efficiency
The data on live weight gain and feed conversion efficiency are presented in Table 3.The average daily gain was not significant (P>0.05)difference among the treatment group.The average growth rate (57.42 -61.20 g/d) of all kid of Black Begal goat was lower than the Angora goats (115.00-125.00g/d) (Sahlu et al., 1992) and Alpine goats (153.00-258.00g/d) (Andrighetto et al., 1994).The lower growth rate might be genetic characteristics of Black Bengal goat.The live weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were not significantly (p>0.01)different with the treatment groups.

Nutrient utilization
The digestibility and N-utilization data are presented in Table 4. Dry matter (DM) digestibility (%) was significantly (p<0.05)higher (74.45) in T 1 group compare to other groups.CP digestibility was numerically higher in T 1 group than other three groups.The digestibility of nutrient depends on physiology of kids, particularly the development and capacity of the digestive tract (Roy, 1980 andThivend et al., 1980).All feeds were consumed in to abomasums through esophageal groove in new born kids.The esophageal groove was reflex continues to function for several months until continuous milk feeding.The post natal development of the ruminant's stomach is related to live weight, age and diet (Sanz Sampelayo et al., 1987).The Nitrogen retention percentage was not significantly (P>0.05)different in the treatment groups but higher values found in T 1 group.The nitrogen requirements of growing goat kids depend on nitrogen sources, level, growth rate and body composition.

Table 4 . Effect of different milk replacer on nutrients digestibility and N balance.
NS= Non significant, *P<0.05DM= Dry Matter, CP= Crude Protein, OM= Organic Matter, N= Nitrogen