Vaalharts Agricultural Research Station, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Private Bag X9, Northern Cape, Jan Kempdorp 8550, South Africa
Mashiloane, M.L., Vaalharts Agricultural Research Station, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Private Bag X9, Northern Cape, Jan Kempdorp 8550, South Africa; Ntwaeagae, O.M., Vaalharts Agricultural Research Station, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Private Bag X9, Northern Cape, Jan Kempdorp 8550, South Africa
The objectives of this study were to determine if minimal supplemental feeding with lucerne during late gestation has effect on weight gain of does and birth weight, weaning weight and pre-weaning growth rate of their kids. Thirty-six late-pregnant does were allocated in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) to three levels of lucerne treatment in a minimal supplemental strategy. The strategy requires that animals be fed at least half their daily dry matter requirement with a high nutrient feedstuff to supplement natural grazing. Effects of minimal supplementation with lucerne were analyzed using Mixed procedures of SAS. There were no significant differences in doe weight gain between all treatments, and the same applied for kid performance traits. Minimal supplemental feeding with lucerne did not affect weight gain of does and pre-weaning performance kids.