Performance of Marwari goats under different systems of feeding management

Production performance of Marwari goats was studied under different systems of feeding management. Thirty Marwari does were divided into three uniform groups of 10 each on 105-day of pregnancy and maintained under extensive, semi-intensive and intensive systems of feeding management up to the day of kidding and then up to 150th day of lactation. The does weighing 34.2±0.75, 34.8±0.88 and 34.0±0.82 kg on 105-day of pregnancy reached at 38.4±0.76, 42.0±1.47 and 38.8±1.29 kg on the day of kidding under extensive, semi-intensive and intensive systems, respectively. The does weighing 33.2±0.81, 35.9±1.47 and 33.5±1.11 kg soon after kidding reached at 33.2±0.85, 35.9±1.22 and 35.0±0.78 kg on the 150-day of lactation under the three respective systems. The does maintained under extensive, semi-intensive and intensive systems produced a total of 73.5±5.89, 100.5±7.19 and 88.6±2.90 kg of milk, during the first 150 days of lactation amounting to 490±19.1, 670±7.2 and 591±24.7 g/head/day, respectively. The birth and weaning weights were 2.9±0.19, 3.0±0.21 and 2.9±0.18 kg and 12.4±0.54, 16.3±1.27 and 13.0±0.96 kg in males and 2.3±0.15, 2.4±0.15 and 2.3±0.14 kg and 10.5±1.35, 11.9±0.64 and 10.5±0.82 kg in female kids respectively under the three systems. It was concluded that the does maintained under semi-intensive system performed significantly better than those under intensive and extensive systems in respect of live weight gains and milk production. The intensive system, however, proved to be better than extensive system in all respects.