Reproductive performance of Sudan Nilotic does fed pelleted molasses and mash sorghum based diets

The study was conducted to compare the reproductive performance of Sudan Nilotic does on a standard mash sorghum based (MSD) or a complete pelleted molasses based diet (PMD). A total of 31 does were used – 15 does were offered MSD (sorghum based concentrates and sorghum straw fed separately), while the other 16 does were fed PMD. Experimental animals were housed in 12 subgroups (2–3 does each) of uniform body weight, in separate pens. Six subgroups were allotted at random to each diet treatment. Does were exposed to an adult fertile buck daily, for a period of 3 h. Gestation period, postpartum anestrus period and kidding interval, body weight at conception and kidding and litter size and kid birth weights were recorded. Data on individual doe performance were subjected to an analysis of covariance (number of days before successful service being a covariate). Performance traits on a flock basis were analyzed using the chi-square test. No significant differences were induced by the diet treatments on most of reproductive traits evaluated. Overall gestation, postpartum anestrus periods, kidding interval, litter size and litter weight were 149.5 ± 6.2 days, 121.3 ± 36.0 days, 272.0 ± 35.0 days, 1.2 ± 0.4 kids/doe and 2.2 ± 0.5 kg, respectively. The overall means for conception, kidding, twinning and pre-weaning kid mortality rates were 90.2%, 96.7%, 11.3% and 10.0%, respectively. It could be concluded that the Nilotic does are prolific goats. It was also found that molasses pelleted diet satisfied the nutritive requirements, similar to sorghum mash diet, i.e. reducing the feeding cost and securing more cereal grains for human consumption.