Effects of decoquinate on the growth and milk performance of young female goats

• Published in: Small ruminant research Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 109 - 114
• Main Authors: Morand-Fehr, P, Richard, A, Tessier, J, Hervieu, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Decoquinate; Growth; Life Sciences; Milk production; Young goats; Decoquinate; Growth; Young goats; Milk production
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/S0921-4488(02)00089-5

In intensive conditions of goat milk production, the female goats can be mated as early as 7–8 months old (around 55% of adult live weight). The growth rate must be rapid from birth to the mating period. The purpose of the experiment is to know if decoquinate treatments in a goat flock without clinical coccidiosis can improve the growth and milk performances of replacement goats. Every year for 5 years, we compared two or three groups of young female Alpine goats of an experimental flock: the group S received a twice daily sulfadimerazine treatment for 3 days, and the groups D30 or D75 received 1 mg decoquinate/kg BW from 8 days before weaning to 30 or 75 days after weaning, respectively. At 7 months, the body weights of the D group were always higher than group S, by 1.4–4.8 kg. The 75-day treatment appeared to be more efficient for weight gain than the 30-day treatment. In all the cases, the feed efficiency was improved. The 100 or 200 days milk production of the first lactation was improved with the 75-day treatment but not the 30-day treatment. The effect on milk production was attributed to heavier live weight at mating and parturition of group D goats.