Effect of dry matter intake from whole goat milk and calf milk replacer on performance of Nubian goat kids

The dry matter in calf milk replacer was compared with dry matter in goat milk for Nubian goat kids. Kids were fed the following diets from 4 days of age for 6 wk: 1) whole goat milk (14.0% dry matter), 2) calf milk replacer (13.5% dry matter), and 3) calf milk replacer (18.0% dry matter). Body weight of kids fed whole milk and 18.0% dry matter milk replacer increased each week. Kids fed the 13.5% dry matter milk replacer increased in weight to the 3rd wk but steadily declined thereafter. Total weight gain was more for kids fed whole milk (3.89 kg) than for kids fed milk replacer diets with 13.5 or 18.0% dry matter (.79 and 3.06 kg, respectively). For the first 3 wk, average daily gain was lowest for kids fed 18.0% milk replacer diet, but highest for wk 4 to 6. These data indicate that 3-week-old goat kids can utilize large amounts of dry matter from milk replacer to sustain a rate of growth similar to that of kids fed whole milk; however, high amounts of dry matter from milk replacer are poorly utilized by kids during the first 3 wk of life.