HEALTH AND GROWTH IN YOUNG GOATS FED PELLETED LUCERNE OR CONCENTRATE AD-LIBITUM

Twenty male kids of the Danish Landrace, in two groups of ten each, we re fed ad libitum whole barley and pelleted protein supplement (group A) or forage pellets (mostly lucerne) (group B), from 1 mo of age unti l slaugther 3 mo later. Both groups had free access to hay. Apart from subclinical acidosis initially, group A remained healthy, showed acce ptable weight gain (197 g/day) and produced marketable carcasses. In c ontrast, group B had clinical coccidiosis. signs of undernutrition, lo wer blood Mg, inorganic P, glucose, Se, and produced a significantly l ower mean weight gain (111 g/day, P < 0.001). Carcasses of group B had poor muscular conformation and were found unsuitable for the Danish m arket. Reasons why coccidiosis reached clinical levels in group B but not in group A, were probably nutritional stress and a wet environment favouring oocyst development and survival. Although the price per kg weight gain was 21% lower in group B compared to group A, it was concl uded that lucerne pellets offered ad libitum, directly off nursing mil k, without mineral or energy supplementation, can not be recommended f or finishing young male kids for market kid production.