THE ENERGY AND PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS DURING PREGNANCY OF KATJANG GOATS IN MALAYSIA

C. DEVENDRA

SUMMARY

Investigations are reported on the determination of the energy and protein requirements for pregnancy of adult indigenous Katjang goats in Malaysia. The study is based on five does fed and maintained in metabolism cages throughout the pregnancy period. The mean daily DMI during pregnancy was 2.53 as percentage of body weight equivalent to 57.2g/W^0.75kg/day. This supported a daily live weight increase of 52 g during the entire pregnancy phase and 56 g/day during the last two months of pregnancy. Body weight was significantly correlated to DE and ME intake (P<0.05). The metabolisable energy (ME) and digestible crude protein (DCP) requirements, during the last two months of pregnancy were determined to be 602.5 kJ ME/W^0.75 kg/day and 3.6 g DCP/W^0.75kg/day. These values are 14.0% and 20.0% higher when the calculations were made for the entire pregnancy period. The possibility exists that determinations of energy and protein requirements which are confined to the last two months of pregnancy are overestimated. The relationship between digestible energy (DE) and DCP was I MJ DE = 4.7g DCP. The results also indicated an increased requirement of 10% for ME and 44% for DCP for twin kids over dams with single kids. A comparison of the data available concerning nutrient requirements for the different life cycle phases of the Katjang goat, with other published values suggests presently that this breed may have an inherently lower nutrient requirement in the context of efficient adaptation to low planes of nutrition. Recommendations of energy and protein allowances for Katjang goats over the weight range 10 to 60 kg are given.

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