Recently, agriculture has trended towards the utilization of organic products, due to the belief of superior outcomes, reporting healthier animals with better weight gains, and higher quality products among consumers. However, previous research regarding organic feedstuffs has reported conflicting results, supporting the need for continuing research. Reproductive success throughout and post gestation of caprine dams is closely related to the nutritional intake of the animal, which could be impacted by consumption of organic products. The objective of the current study was to observe caprine kid birth weight, kid ADG, and dam weight throughout pregnancy comparing organic and conventional feedstuffs. Eight pregnant Nubian dams (n = 4) between 1 and 5 yr of age with initial BW between 45.4 and 68.5 kg were separated into groups based on initial BW and BCS. The organic group received a certified organic concentrate, certified organic mineral supplement, and a certified organic molasses while the conventional group received a conventional concentrate, conventional mineral supplement, and conventional molasses. Both groups had ad-libitum access to hay and water. Dams were fed 0.907kg/d/45.4kg of BW of concentrate and mineral supplement at 0.012kg/d/45.4kg of BW in individual feeding stocks at 0630 and 1730 for the last six wk of gestation and three wk post-parturition. Dams were individually weighted and observed weekly for BCS using the American Daily Goat Association’s BCS 1 to 5 scale. After parturition, kid birth weight was measured using a hanging sling scale and daily kid weight gain was recorded for three wk post parturition. Differences in kid birth weight, kid ADG, and dam weight were analyzed by two-tailed T-Test at P > 0.05. No differences between kid ADG (P = 0.759), kid birth weight (P = 0.405), or for dam weekly weight (P = 0.457) were observed. Thus, the increase in cost to raise certified organic livestock, such as caprine, is not financially justifiable.
Organic products have been growing in popularity in the consumer market, often without evidence to support potential benefits. Many organic products promise better results than conventional products, yet research examining the use of organic products as a feedstuff in caprine diets is lacking. Additionally, the cost of organic feedstuff is much greater when compared to conventional. Reproductive success of an animal has a direct correlation with nutrition throughout pregnancy and could be impacted by organic products. Thus, potential benefits of increase of reproductive health could outweigh the initial cost of organic feedstuffs. The objective of the current study was to determine differences in dystocia occurrence between caprine dams fed conventional and organic feedstuffs in the last 6 wk of gestation. Eight gestating Nubian does (n = 4) ranging from 1 to 5 yr of age with initial BW between 45.4 and 68.5 kg were separated into two treatment groups based on BCS utilizing the American Dairy Goat Association’s BCS 1 to 5 scale. Treatment A was fed a conventional diet including 14% CP concentrate, mineral supplementation, and molasses. Treatment B was fed an equivalent USDA certified organic concentrate, mineral supplement and molasses. Dams were fed 0.907kg/d/45.4kg of BW of concentrate and mineral supplement at 0.012kg/d/45.4kg of BW in individual feeding stocks at 0630 and 1730 in the last 6 wk of gestation. All Dams were provided ad libitum to hay and water. During parturition, dystocia was defined as requiring obstetrical assistance at any point during kidding. Differences in dystocia rate between conventional and organic groups were analyzed by independent T-Test at P < 0.05. As expected, no differences were observed between organic and conventional treatment groups (p = 0.28). As a result, the increased priced of organic feedstuff was not justified for feeding over conventional products.
Organic products are increasing in popularity due to consumer interest and animal products are no exception. Trends towards organic livestock diets have increased yet many questions exist regarding potential health benefits or negative increased cost from the organic product. Organic livestock diets could impact reproductive health yet research into organic feedstuffs is lacking. Previous research examined impacts of diet on placental factors and indicated nutrient transfer from dams to fetus. Impacts of organic practices on livestock reproduction has not been explored, as studies linking nutrition and reproductive abilities have been limited to conventional diets, despite increases in organic practices. The objective of the current study observed differences in placental factors between Nubian dams fed organic and conventional diets. Placental factors were defined as placental weight and cotyledon factors. Six (n = 3) pregnant Nubian dams were separated into an organic group and conventional group based on BW and BCS. The organic group was fed a certified organic concentrate and organic supplement, which had equivalent nutrients to conventional concentrate and supplement. Dams were fed 0.907kg/d/45.4kg of BW of concentrate and 0.012kg/d/45.4kg of BW in individual feeding stocks at 0630 and 1730 for the last six wks of gestation and three wks post-parturition. Upon expulsion of the placenta, the placenta was weighed, cotyledons were counted, and three cotyledons were measured for height, length, width, and volume. Differences in placental weight and cotyledon factors were analyzed by a two-tailed independent T-Test at P < 0.05. No differences were observed for any of the placental aspects (P = 0.486, 0.987, 0.997, 0.468, 0.448, and 0.809, respectively). Placental aspects, such as number and height, may have been influenced by the number of offspring each dam produced, but was not consistent between groups. Based upon the current study, increased cost of organic livestock production may not be justifiable for most goat producers.
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