Effects of Feeding Organic and Conventional Mineral Supplements on Dam Weight throughout the Last Period of Gestation in Nubian Goats

Proper nutrition for caprine dams throughout gestation, especially during the third trimester, is imperative to health (i.e. bone development, increased birth weight, immunity) of the unborn kid. In recent years, organic farming has become a more common practice as many consider organic products to be superior. However, research on beneficial effects of organic supplementation is lacking in goats. The objective of the current experiment was to examine the effects of feeding conventional or organic mineral supplements on Nubian goat dam wt during the last 6 wks of gestation. Ten gestating Nubian does, ranging from 1 to 3 yrs of age and BW varying 45.36 to 65.77 kg, were selected during the third trimester. Five does were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments in a CR design in which goats were weighed once a wk until parturition. Diets consisted of conventional or organic mineral supplement fed at 28.3 g / d / 45.4 kg of BW, recleaned oats and flaked corn for energy and protein at a 50:50 ration of 0.272 kg per 45.4 kg / d and first cut hay group fed at a 1.36 kg / head / d ration at 0700 and 1700 with ad libitum access to water. Mineral supplements strictly followed the 2:1 ratio of calcium and phosphorus to improve dam health and development of the unborn kid. Dam wt gain was expected to increase greater via supplementation in addition to the nearing date of parturition. Data were analyzed by independent T-Test at P<0.05 using IBM S.P.S.S22. Overall, no differences between organic and conventional mineral supplementation fed to does in late gestation (P<0.05). BW of does steadily increased however, wk 1 to wk 2 BW of goats decreased within both groups. Greater increases in wt. gain occurred as the date of parturition approached similarly across both treatments. Additionally, research on caprine organic and conventional farming found no differences in wt gain in accordance with the current experiment. Conflicting research indicating differences across conventional and organic farming resulted from differing breeds and low forage diets. In conclusion, organic mineral supplementation was not superior in regards to wt gain of pregnant does, therefore, the greater costs involved with organic may not be necessary to maintain productive farms.