Response of multiparous and primiparous West African Dwarf goats (Capra hircus, L.) to concentrate supplementation

The effects of parity and plane of nutrition on mass during gestation and the post-partum periods were studied in 36 adult West African Dwarf (WAD) goats assigned to three planes of nutrition for a period of 2 years. There was general mass gain in all the groups during gestation. Mass gain in high supplemented group (A) was significantly superior (P<0.05) to the gain in unsupplemented group (C), but not in medium supplemented group (B). Similarly, mass losses occurred in all groups post-partum. The mass losses were not significantly different between the groups. Mass changes in the does were not influenced by litter types. Dams giving birth to only singleton gained 4.4 ± 0.55 kg during gestation. The corresponding value for twin-bearing does was 6.13 ± 0.80 kg. Pre-partum mass gains were positively correlated with pre-weaning mass losses in all groups. However, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in groups A and B, but not in group C. Parity had no significant effect within groups A and B, but does (dams) in group A significantly gained more mass (P<0.02) than groups B and C. There was a progressive mass increase with advancing pregnancy in all the groups. Group A does had significantly higher daily mass gain than group C during 1-140 days (P<0.05), 50-140 days (P<0.05) of pregnancy. It was concluded that nutrition and parity significantly affected the mass changes during gestation and the post partum period.