Body live weight and milk production parameters in the Majorera and Palmera goat breeds from the Canary Islands: influence of weight loss

Abstract

Seasonal weight loss (SWL), caused by poor quality pastures during the dry season, is the major limitation to animal production in the tropics. One of the ways to counter this problem is to breed animals that show tolerance to SWL. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of feed restriction in milk production and live weight (LW) evolution in two goat breeds, with different levels of adaptation to nutritional stress: the Majorera (considered to be tolerant) and the Palmera (considered to be susceptible). A total of ten animals per breed were used. Animals were divided in four groups (two for each breed): a restricted group (restricted diet) and a control group. LW and milk yield parameters were recorded through a trial that lasted 23 days in total. Overall, there were no significant differences between both restricted groups, regarding neither LW nor milk yield reductions (LW reduction 13 % and milk yield reduction of 87 % for both restricted groups). In what concerns control groups, there were no significant differences between breeds, thought there were different increments at the end of the trial for both breeds regarding LW (6 and 4 %, for Majorera and Palmera, respectively) and milk yield (28 and 8 %, respectively for Majorera and Palmera). The lack of statistically significant differences between Palmera and Majorera LW and milk yields in restricted groups may be due to the fact that the controlled trial does not replicate harsh field conditions, in which Majorera would excel, and the stress induced by those differences.

Mineral profiling of muscle and hepatic tissues of Australian Merino, Damara and Dorper lambs: Effect of weight loss

“…It has an important impact on animal production systems in these areas, as supplementary feed is often necessary if not indispensable to prevent loss of production (Almeida et al, 2013). This phenomenon has been studied in goat bucks (Almeida, Schwalbach, Waal, Greyling, & Cardoso, 2006), sheep (Almeida et al, 2013, 2016; Ferreira et al, 2017; Miller et al, 2019; Ribeiro, Madeira, et al, 2019; Scanlon et al, 2013) and dairy goats (Hernández‐Castellano et al, 2016; Lérias et al, 2013, 2015; Palma, Hernández‐Castellano, et al, 2016). Specifically, Scanlon et al (2013) have reported sheep performance of Australian Merino, Damara and Dorper lambs.…”

The hepatic and skeletal muscle ovine metabolomes as affected by weight loss: a study in three sheep breeds using NMR-metabolomics

“…Animal production in the tropics and the Mediterranean is strongly affected by pasture scarcity and quality during the dry summer and autumn months, leading to Seasonal Weight Loss (SWL), as we have demonstrated in South Africa34, Western Africa56, Western Australia7 and the Canary Islands89. To counter the effects of SWL, farmers use supplementation to balance the nutritional needs of the animals.…”

“…To counter the effects of SWL, farmers use supplementation to balance the nutritional needs of the animals. Supplementation is expensive and difficult to implement in extensive production systems in developing countries or remote locations8. An alternative method for addressing the effects of SWL is the use of sheep breeds that are naturally adapted to this constraint and are able to thrive and more effectively produce in such difficult environments.…”

Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors Affecting Yield and Milk Composition in Goats

“…The dietary concentrate level and nature of specific concentrate and forage feedstuffs impact level of milk production and characteristics of milk and milk products [31]. Nutrition affects both the yield and composition of the milk produced [32][33][34]. Energy is one of the limiting factors to high milk production.…”