Effects of a low plane of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on the performance of Matebele does and their kids

Fifty individually-penned Matebele does of average liveweight 41.4 +/- 0.2 kg were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments during gestation (18 -0.28, 16-0.22 and 16-0.17 MJ ME kg(-1) metabolic liveweight (W-0.75)) and after parturition they were offered either 0.43 MJ ME kg(-1) W-0.75 or ad l ibitum feeding of a lucerne: natural pasture hay mixture (30:70) w/w). Does on 0.17, 0.22 and 0.28 MJ ME kg(-1) W-0.75 lost 26%, 20% and 16% of their initial liveweight, respectively. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in g estation length (148 +/- 1.45 day), kid birthweights (2.1 +/- 0.06 kg) and litter size (1.2 +/- 0.03) between treatments. In the first 6 weeks of lact ation, does that were previously on the lowest ME intake gained more weight than does that had been on the other two treatments. All does lost weight in weeks 7-15 of lactation. The growth rate of kids was influenced by energ y level offered to the doe during lactation, being lowest (72 g/day) for th e does that received low energy in both gestation and lactation. It was con cluded that the Matebele does are resilient to nutritional stress during th e last trimester of pregnancy and are able to carry a foetus to term. This adaptation to nutrient deficiency is important for the survival of the bree d in the harsh semi-arid areas in which it has evolved. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.