Effect of early weaning on the growth and viability of kids and on the milk production of Drâa goats

The objective of the study was to asses the effect of early weaning (45 days) compared with normal weaning (75 days on average) on the growth and viability of kids, on the postpartum anoestrus and on the milk yield and milk composition of Drâa goats. Thus, 60 Drâa does and their kids, under a 3 kiddings in 2 years managment system, were divided into two batches of weaning (early and normal). The results showed that the growth of kids weaned at 45 days slowed down between 30 and 60 days (53 vs. 80 g / d) and between 60 and 90 days of age (50 vs. 64 g / d). However, the duration of the postpartum anoestrus was reduced by 25 days in does whose kids were weaned early. As for milk production, only fat yield and fat percent were affected and positively by early weaning. Thus, it has been concluded that early weaning can be practiced in Drâa goats for a dual purpose (milk and meat), but special attention should be paid to the kids to reduce mortalities

Effet du sevrage précoce sur la croissance et la viabilité des chevreaux et sur la production laitière des chèvres de race Drâa

The objective of the study was to asses the effect of early weaning (45 days) compared with normal weaning (75 days on average) on the growth and viability of kids, on the postpartum anoestrus and on the milk yield and milk composition of Drâa goats. Thus, 60 Drâa does and their kids, under a 3 kiddings in 2 years managment system, were divided into two batches of weaning (early and normal). The results showed that the growth of kids weaned at 45 days slowed down between 30 and 60 days (53 vs. 80 g / d) and between 60 and 90 days of age (50 vs. 64 g / d). However, the duration of the postpartum anoestrus was reduced by 25 days in does whose kids were weaned early. As for milk production, only fat yield and fat percent were affected and positively by early weaning. Thus, it has been concluded that early weaning can be practiced in Drâa goats for a dual purpose (milk and meat), but special attention should be paid to the kids to reduce mortalities. Keywords: goat, early weaning, growth, viability, milkL’objectif de l’étude était d’étudier l’effet du sevrage précoce (45 j), en comparaison avec le sevrage normal (75 j en moyenne), sur la croissance et la viabilité des chevreaux et sur le retour en chaleurs, la production et la composition du lait des chèvres de la race Drâa. Pour ce faire, 60 chèvres et leurs chevreaux, conduites au rythme de 3 chevrotages en 2 ans, ont été répartis en deux lots de sevrage (précoce et normal). Les résultats ont montré que la croissance des chevreaux sevrés à 45 jours a été ralentie entre 30 et 60 j (53 vs. 80 g/j) et entre 60 et 90 j d’âge (50 vs. 64 g/j). En revanche, la durée de l’anœstrus postpartum se trouve réduite de 25 jours chez les chèvres dont les chevreaux ont été sevrés précocement. Le sevrage précoce n’a significativement influencé ni la quantité de lait en 120 jours de lactation, ni la quantité de matières protéiques, ni le taux protéique. Par contre, la quantité de matières grasses et le taux butyreux ont été significativement meilleurs chez les chèvres du lot de sevrage précoce. Ainsi, il a été conclu que le sevrage précoce peut être envisagé dans un objectif de production mixte (lait et viande), mais une attention particulière doit être prêtée aux chevreaux afin de réduire les mortalités. Mots-clés: Caprin, sevrage précoce, croissance, viabilité, lai