Effect of Concentrate Flushing on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Abergele Goats

Effect of Concentrate Flushing on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Abergele Goats | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Effect of Concentrate Flushing on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Abergele Goats Alemu Dagnachew, Ayalew Girmay, Ayalew Assefa, Eshetie Alemu, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8167910/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study was designed to evaluate the response of Abergelle goats to the flushing scheme before and after conception and determine the appropriate feed level for breeding does. Twenty-four Abergelle does were used in the experiment. Animals were randomly divided into three groups: T1 = free grazing; T2 = supplemented wheat bran plus cowpea hay (200gram + 350gram), and T3 = supplemented wheat bran plus noug cake (200gram + 200gram). Six adult bucks were assigned (two bucks per group) for 30 days in April 2019 for mating purposes. The result revealed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.01) among treatments in the kidding weight of Does. The highest was recorded for T2 (5 kg) followed by T3 (1.8 kg) and the lowest was in T1 (0.4kg). The negative average daily gain was recorded T1 during pregnancy. However, there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference among treatments in pregnancy rate. The body weight at kidding was somewhat similar in T1(1.66kg) and T3 (1.75kg), respectively; this is because of the high rate of twinning of T3(85%) and T1(0%). However, it was found that the birth weight of kids was much higher than does in T2 (2.25). The twinning rate of does in T3(85%) was higher than does in T2 and T1. The birth weight of kids from does in T2(2.25kg) was significantly higher than in T1(1.77kg) and T3(1,66kg). It was concluded that supplementing free-ranging goats under dry season with wheat bran plus cowpea hay (200gram + 350gram) feeds has been found effective in improving the body weight gain and reproductive performance of Abergele does. Biological sciences/Physiology Biological sciences/Zoology Abergele goats flushing scheme supplementation reproductive performance body weight birth weight 1. Introduction Goats' effective use of nutrients, made possible by a sufficient supply of energy, promotes their output. Age, body size, physiological condition, surroundings, muscle activity, hair development, and interactions with other nutrients all affect energy needs. Depending on the area, weather factors, including temperature, humidity, sunshine, and wind speed, can either raise or lower energy requirements. Furthermore, any type of stress might increase the need for energy 1 . For many smallholder farms, sheep and goats provide significant advantages over large ruminants. They grow faster to marketable size and have fewer input expenses, particularly for feed. They are easier to handle due to their compact size, and they flip over more quickly because of their shorter generation intervals. Sheep and goats usually have lower mortality rates than cattle in severe or drought-prone settings, and flock numbers can rebound more quickly during negative times. 2 However, the timing and duration of flushing, the animals' bodily condition, their genotype, and the quantity and caliber of nutritional supplements all influence the variability and irregularity of flushing responses 3 . Flushing has been shown to have a major impact on Abergelle goat reproduction. By giving the animals access to luxuriant pastures or energy-rich dietary supplements right before mating, the body condition of the goats improves, increasing the likelihood of conception and kidding, and improving ovulation in undernourished does. In contrast to little or no flushing, flushing with higher concentrations significantly increased conception (from ~ 50–60% to ~ 70–80%) and kidding rates, as well as body weights at kidding and postpartum, according to a study on Abergelle does 4 . Because day-length variations are minimal in tropical regions, tropical goat breeds are typically continuous breeders, able to ovulate all year round. Their capacity to completely realize this potential is frequently restricted by times of forage scarcity and poor body condition, which results in longer anestrous or an ovulatory episode, decreased fertility, and decreased prolificacy. According to recent studies, flushing can improve reproductive outcomes in tropical goats by providing a buffer against nutritional stress, either by giving the goats access to lush, nutrient-rich pasture or by adding energy-rich foods to their diets. For instance, existing research shows they respond positively to concentrate supplementation, a study conducted in Benin's sub-humid tropical climate revealed that crossbred dairy goats 5 . Demonstrated noticeably greater rates of conception, prolificacy, and fertility under moderate and extreme heat/nutritional stress than purebred Saanens, suggesting that environmental restrictions can be lessened by nutritional control and supplementation 5 . An efficient management technique for enhancing tropical goats' reproductive performance is flushing. Short-term supplementation with energy-and/or protein-rich concentrates just before mating improves body condition and raises estrus expression, conception, and kidding rates, and litter size in indigenous goat breeds like Abergelle under feed-limited situations. When Abergelle does did receive moderate to high amounts of concentrate (e.g., 300–450 g of wheat bran plus 50 g of noug seed cake per day) as opposed to little or no supplementation, field tests revealed noticeably higher conception and kidding rates. These findings are in line with other recent reviews and flushing trials that demonstrate how focused flushing around mating can improve reproductive outcomes and lessen seasonal feed shortages in smallholder settings. 4 Evidence points to some seasonality linked to natural restrictions, even though Abergelle goats are sometimes thought of as breeding more freely than highly seasonal temperate breeds. Productivity studies indicate that Abergelle does have an average kidding interval of about 362 days and that seasonal impacts on kid survival and birth weights suggest periods of increased and decreased reproductive activity. In their natural habitat, mating typically occurs after the main rainy season, when food is abundant. This results in newborns during times when feed is more readily available, as opposed to just "early summer" or "spring to early winter." 6 Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing free-ranging goats with better energy and protein source feeds productive and reproductive performance of Abergelle does. 2. Material and Methods Description of the study area The study was conducted at Aybra, a research station of Sekota Dryland Agriculture Research Center, Ethiopia. Study site Location and other climate data descriptions are presented in Table 1 Geographical and climatic characteristics of the study site. Study site Latitude Longitude Altitude (m a.s.l.) Rainfall (mm) Temperature (°C) Aybra 12°43′65″ 39°02′027″ 1978 300–700 20.33 Notes : • Altitude = meters above sea level (m a.s.l.) • Temperature = mean annual temperature in °C 2.1 Does and management practices Twenty-four Abergelle does were selected from the local market. Goats of known fertility were maintained in isolation from the sight, sound, and smell of bucks for 6 weeks before the trial. Does were randomly divided into three groups: T1, T2, and T3 (free grazing, supplemented with wheat bran 200gm, (12%CP) plus cowpea 350 g (19%CP), and supplemented wheat bran 200gm, (12%CP) plus noug seed cake 200g (26%CP), respectively. The experiment was arranged with an RCBD design with three treatments and 8 replications. All the experiments does were tagged with an identification ear tag. Does were offered 200 g of wheat bran + 350gm cowpea and 200 g wheat bran + 200 g noug seed cake g/head/day of concentrate served in large plastic beans scattered throughout the pen, in the evenings. Does were weighed one month later (1st April) and at parturition (September). Feeding management was done as per standard feeding practices recommended by 7 . 2.2Buck management Six healthy adult bucks used in this experiment were sourced from the Sekota Dryland Agricultural Research center (body weight, 40 ± 5 kg) with previous mating experience and a history of adequate kidding percentages in flocks were allowed to join the does. These animals were kept in a ruffed cement floor pen one month before breeding, where they had free access to water and a mineral mix. Twice daily, bucks were offered cowpea hay ad libitum consumption. In addition, each animal was fed a daily 50% concentrate mix (two bucks per group) for 17 days during April 2019. The animals were randomly allocated into three treatment groups (T1, T2, T3). This feeding strategy is in line with earlier goat flushing and supplementation research that found that giving goats extra energy and protein sources before mating increases mating efficiency and reproductive success 8 , 9 . Every technique was used in compliance with applicable rules and regulations, and all reporting adheres to the ARRIVE criteria. The experimental protocol was authorized ARARI Ethics Committee, SDARC/LRD/2021/13. After the experiment was over, all of the animals were returned to the research farm; none were put to death or slaughtered during the study. 3. Data collection and Statistical analyses Initial weight, weight before breeding, mating date, abortion, kidding date, litter size, birth weight of kids, postpartum weight, and other important data were recorded. Data were coded in Microsoft Excel and arranged for analysis. The GLM procedure of R4.1 was used to perform data analysis. Each of the means was separated with the Duncan test, and the fed with T-test significant differences were tested at α = 0.05. 4. Result and Discussion In line with reports that short-term nutritional flushing or dietary supplementation around breeding increases live weight, improves hormonal profiles, and shortens time to first conception in goats, supplementing does with a concentrate mixture (in this case, 200 g wheat bran + 350 g cowpea) increased live-weight gain and significantly shortened days to conception (P < 0.05). Following dietary additive/supplement interventions, Black Bengal and other goat breeds have shown comparable effects of targeted supplementation on live weight and enhanced reproductive performance 8 . The interpretation of this trial that the concentrate mix improved ovulation/conception efficiency is supported by the Scientific Reports studies I found, which link improved live weights from supplementation with earlier/shorter time to conception, improved estrus expression, and better reproductive outcomes. 10 In comparison to T3 and T1, the supplemented group (T2) was about 5 kg heavier (P < 0.01) at kidding at parturition. This is consistent with previous findings that higher live weights at kidding are maintained by receiving increased energy/protein supplementation before and during pregnancy, which is positively associated with better kidding outcomes (e.g., higher conception rates, higher litter sizes) in goats. This results in a line 10 . The kid's birth weights at parturition varied little between treatments; T3 (1.66 kg) and T1 (1.75 kg) had similar mean values (Table 2). The increased twinning rate (85%) observed in T3 may be linked to the comparatively lower birth weight in this group, which most likely resulted in a dilution of the intrauterine nutrition supply per fetus. Despite this, the does' total body weight was higher in T2 than in T1, suggesting that concentrate supplementation improved the mother's physical condition. It is well recognized that greater bodily health before and during pregnancy improves ovulation rates, conception success, and fetal growth, all of which improve reproductive outcomes 11 . Table 2 | Effect of nutritional flushing on body weight, daily gain, conception rate, and abortion rate of Abergelle goats. Trait T1 T2 T3 BW before mating (kg) 22.3 ± 3.7 23.4 ± 3.6 23.9 ± 3.8 BW at mating (kg) 21.8 ± 3.4 24.4 ± 4.2 24.1 ± 4.1 BW change (kg) -0.37 1.14 0.77 Mating date after flushing (days) 11.14 ± 7ᶜ 2.14 ± 1ᵃ 6 ± 9ᵇ Daily gain (g/day) -12.33ᵇ 38ᵃ 25.66ᵃ Conception rate (%) 87.5 100 87.5 Abortion rate (%) 12.5 0 12.5 Notes: Values with different superscript letters (a, b, c) within a row are significantly different ( p < 0.05). BW = body weight. Table 3: Live body weight changes of experimental animals across treatments Variables weight before breeding (kg) weight during breeding (kg) Daily weight gain (kg) Kidd’s birth weight (kg) T1 22.3 ± 3.7 21.8± 3.4 -12.33 b 1.75 b T2 23.4 ±3.6 24.4± 4.2 38 a 2.25 a T3 23.9 ±3.8 24.1± 4.1 25.66 a 1.66 b T1 =control, T2= 200g wheat bran +350g cowpea and T3= 200g wheat bran + 200g noug cake The current research shows that supplementing does strategically with a suitable amount of concentrate improves their overall physiological status, which supports shorter intervals between conceptions, higher rates of twinning, higher birth weights for the offspring, and improved maternal capacity to feed the newborns. Similar findings were found in prior research on meat and indigenous goat breeds, where nutrient flushing boosted pregnancy and kidding rates as well as postnatal performance 12 , 13 , 14 . Moreover, providing native goats with nutritional supplements before mating and throughout the first few months of pregnancy greatly improves the effectiveness of reproduction and the growth performance of the offspring 15 , 13 . The significance of targeted supplementation as an economical method of enhancing reproductive productivity in smallholder production systems is further highlighted by the results' congruence with previous studies. Table 4: Some reproductive characteristics of does across the treatments Variables Mating date (days) Conception rate (%) Kidding rate(%) Twining rate (%) T1 11.14±7 c 87.5 87.5 0 T2 2.14±1 a 100 100 0 T3 6±9 b 87.5 87.5 85 T1 =control, T2= 200g wheat bran +350g cowpea and T3= 200g wheat bran + 200g noug cake During the breeding season, variations in feed intake between Treatment 2 (T2) and Treatment 3 (T3) were examined using an independent t-test with an alpha level of 0.05. Table 3 displays descriptive statistics. Goats in T2 consumed considerably more feed than goats in T3 (p < 0.05), according to the data, suggesting that the food supplied under T2 was better consumed. This increased consumption could be explained by the almost equal amounts of roughage and concentrate provided in T2, which probably enhanced voluntary intake and palatability. In order to meet the increased energy and protein requirements required for successful reproductive activity, greater feed intake during the breeding phase is essential 12 , 16 , 17 . Short-term dietary incentive effects, which trigger metabolic and hormonal reactions that affect ovarian activity, may potentially be connected to the higher feed intake seen in T2. Goat conception and ovulation rates have been demonstrated to rise with short-term flushing and concentrate supplementation, supporting the notion that better nutrition availability during mating improves reproductive results 8 . Short-term increases in food intake raise blood glucose and insulin concentrations, which in turn stimulate follicular growth and enhance the rate of ovulation in goats 15 . This implies that enhanced metabolic circumstances favorable to reproduction may have been supported by T2's greater food availability. The results thus show that feed intake, metabolic condition, and ultimately reproductive effectiveness in does can be positively impacted by supplementing with an ideal amount of concentrate and forage both before and during breeding. Table 5. Daily feed intake during the breeding season Feed N Mean (gm) SD T2 8 429.14 36.55 T3 8 246.31 90.68 T2 supplemented 200g wheat bran plus 350g cowpea, and T3 200g wheat bran plus 200g noug seed cake. T2 and T3 at the various feeding levels were compared using an independent t-test. During parturition, Treatment 2 (200 g wheat bran, 12% CP + 350 g cowpea, 19% CP) was more appealing and ingested more than Treatment 3 (T2 vs T3, p < 0.05). This increased consumption of T2 may have supported reproductive performance by improving metabolic condition during breeding and parturition. The amount and kind of cowpea employed, as well as whether it replaces or supplements concentrates, appear to determine the results across trials, despite some prior reports suggesting that adding cowpea hay can improve animal performance and overall dry-matter consumption 18 . Table 6. Daily feed intake during Parturition Feed N Mean (gm) SD T2 8 431.10 47.20 T3 8 242.09 132.98 T2 supplemented 200g wheat bran, plus 350g cowpea, and T3 200g wheat bran plus 200g noug seed cake. 5. Conclusion and Recommendations This study shows that important reproductive and productive qualities are improved when free-ranging Abergelle goats are strategically supplemented throughout the dry season. Better intake, improved metabolic conditions, and improved overall performance were the outcomes of giving a balanced energy-protein meal before breeding and during the last month of gestation. In particular, giving 200 g wheat bran and 200 g noug seed cake for 30 days during the breeding period increased the likelihood of twinning, whereas supplementing each goat with 200 g wheat bran and 350 g cowpea for 30 days supported better reproductive outcomes. In order to increase the reproductive efficiency of native goats in semi-arid areas, we advise implementing focused, short-term supplementation measures. The practical usefulness of these solutions for smallholder production situations will be strengthened by additional research evaluating longer reproductive cycles, higher herd sizes, and economic viability. Declarations Author Contribution: A.D. was involved with all the processes of the experiment and analyzed the data with a full write-up. A.G. developed the proposal, A.A. edited the manuscript, E.A.& T.K. followed up on the experiment, and B.W. edited the manuscript. Writing-review and editing., A.D., A.G., A.A., E.A., T.K., and B.W. edited the manuscript; all authors have read and agreed to the publication version of the manuscript. Funding: This research was conducted as part of the SDARC Research program of the Livestock research program, supported by contributors to the SDARC. Institutional Review Board Statement: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (or Ethics Committee) of Bahir Dar ARARI Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable. Data Availability Statement: The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Acknowledgments: The authors thank the SDARC Livestock Research program. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. References Teixeira, I. A. M. A., Härter, C. J., Vargas, J. A. C., Souza, A. P., & Fernandes, M. H. M. R. Review: Update of nutritional requirements of goats for growth and pregnancy in hot environments. Animal 18 , 101219 (2024). Jemberu, W. T., Li, Y., Asfaw, W., & Knight-Jones, T. J. Population, biomass, and economic value of small ruminants in Ethiopia. Front. Vet. Sci. 9 , 972887 (2022). doi:10.3389/fvets 2022.972887. Academic Journals Tesfaye, A., Asmare, B., Abiso, T. & Wamatu, J. Effect of nutritional flushing using long-term energy and protein supplementation on growth performance and reproductive parameters of Doyogena ewes in Ethiopia. Veterinary Sci. 10 , 368 (2023). doi:10.3390/vetsci10060368. O.J.A.F.R. Birhanie, M., Zenebe, M., & Hagos, H. Effect of nutritional flushing on reproductive and body weight performance of Abergelle goat does. Int. J. Livest. Prod. 11 , 68–71 (2020). (No DOI found; verified via journal site/server). Academic Journals Adjassin, J. S. et al. Impact of heat stress on reproductive performances in dairy goats under a tropical sub-humid environment. Heliyon 8 , e08971 (2022). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08971. PubMed Belkasmi, F. et al. Effects of the level and composition of concentrate supplements before breeding and in early gestation on production of different hair sheep breeds. Animals 13 , 814 (2023). doi:10.3390/ani13050814. Researchers Links Singh, A. K., Bhakat, C., Kisku, U., Karunakaran, M., & Dutta, T. K. Effect of supplementation of phyto-additive mixtures on live weight, blood indices, hormonal profile, and reproductive performance in Black Bengal goats. Sci. Rep. 15 , 4442 (2025). doi:10.1038/s41598-025-89026-9. PubMed+1 Shaukat, A. et al. Effects of nutrient flushing on production and reproductive performance of Teddy goats ( Capra hircus ). Pak. J. Zool. 52 , 457–463 (2020). doi: 10.17582/journal.pjz/20190330090301. SciELO+1 Zabuli, J., Tanaka, T., Lu, W., & Kamomae, H. Intermittent nutritional stimulus by short-term treatment of high-energy diet promotes ovarian performance together with increases in blood levels of glucose and insulin in cycling goats. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 122 , 288–293 (2010). doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.09.005. Amare, B. & Girmay, A. Effect of dietary supplemented cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) hay as a replacement of concentrate on performance and economic efficiency of Abergelle goats. Online J. Anim. Feed Res. 10 , 313–320 (2020). doi:10.51227/ojafr.2020.42. O.J.A.F.R.+1 Shaukat A, Nazir S, Farooq U, et al. Effects of nutrient flushing on production and reproductive performance of Teddy goats (Capra hircus). Pak J Zool. 2020;52(1):457–463. Mellado M, Antonio JR, Meza-Herrera C, et al. Reproductive response to concentrate supplementation of mixed-breed goats on rangeland. Small Rumin Res. 2020; 190:106181. Ahmed ME, Shehata EI. Effects of dietary treatment on reproductive and productive performance in goats. Journal name not provided. 2011; 6:7–14. Anim OJ, Res F. Effects of nutritional supplementation on goat performance. Journal name not provided. 2023;13(3). Zabuli J, Tanaka T, Lu W, Kamomae H. Intermittent nutritional stimulus by short-term high-energy diet promotes ovarian performance and increases circulating glucose and insulin in cycling goats. Anim Reprod Sci. 2010; 122:8509. Amare B, Girmay A. Effect of dietary cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay as a replacement for concentrate on performance and economic efficiency of Abergelle goats. Journal name not provided. 2020; 10:313–320. Zabuli, J., Tanaka, T., Lu, W. & Kamomae, H. Intermittent nutritional stimulus by short-term treatment of high-energy diet promotes ovarian performance together with increases in blood levels of glucose and insulin in cycling goats. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 122 , 288–293 (2010). Amare, B. & Girmay, A. Effect of dietary supplemented cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) hay as a replacement of concentrate on performance and economic efficiency of Abergelle goats. Int. J. Agric. Biosci. 10 , 313–320 (2020). Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eGoats' effective use of nutrients, made possible by a sufficient supply of energy, promotes their output. Age, body size, physiological condition, surroundings, muscle activity, hair development, and interactions with other nutrients all affect energy needs. Depending on the area, weather factors, including temperature, humidity, sunshine, and wind speed, can either raise or lower energy requirements. Furthermore, any type of stress might increase the need for energy \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor many smallholder farms, sheep and goats provide significant advantages over large ruminants. They grow faster to marketable size and have fewer input expenses, particularly for feed. They are easier to handle due to their compact size, and they flip over more quickly because of their shorter generation intervals. Sheep and goats usually have lower mortality rates than cattle in severe or drought-prone settings, and flock numbers can rebound more quickly during negative times.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever, the timing and duration of flushing, the animals' bodily condition, their genotype, and the quantity and caliber of nutritional supplements all influence the variability and irregularity of flushing responses\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFlushing has been shown to have a major impact on Abergelle goat reproduction. By giving the animals access to luxuriant pastures or energy-rich dietary supplements right before mating, the body condition of the goats improves, increasing the likelihood of conception and kidding, and improving ovulation in undernourished does. In contrast to little or no flushing, flushing with higher concentrations significantly increased conception (from ~\u0026thinsp;50\u0026ndash;60% to ~\u0026thinsp;70\u0026ndash;80%) and kidding rates, as well as body weights at kidding and postpartum, according to a study on Abergelle does\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause day-length variations are minimal in tropical regions, tropical goat breeds are typically continuous breeders, able to ovulate all year round. Their capacity to completely realize this potential is frequently restricted by times of forage scarcity and poor body condition, which results in longer anestrous or an ovulatory episode, decreased fertility, and decreased prolificacy. According to recent studies, flushing can improve reproductive outcomes in tropical goats by providing a buffer against nutritional stress, either by giving the goats access to lush, nutrient-rich pasture or by adding energy-rich foods to their diets. For instance, existing research shows they respond positively to concentrate supplementation, a study conducted in Benin's sub-humid tropical climate revealed that crossbred dairy goats\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Demonstrated noticeably greater rates of conception, prolificacy, and fertility under moderate and extreme heat/nutritional stress than purebred Saanens, suggesting that environmental restrictions can be lessened by nutritional control and supplementation\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn efficient management technique for enhancing tropical goats' reproductive performance is flushing. Short-term supplementation with energy-and/or protein-rich concentrates just before mating improves body condition and raises estrus expression, conception, and kidding rates, and litter size in indigenous goat breeds like Abergelle under feed-limited situations. When Abergelle does did receive moderate to high amounts of concentrate (e.g., 300\u0026ndash;450 g of wheat bran plus 50 g of noug seed cake per day) as opposed to little or no supplementation, field tests revealed noticeably higher conception and kidding rates. These findings are in line with other recent reviews and flushing trials that demonstrate how focused flushing around mating can improve reproductive outcomes and lessen seasonal feed shortages in smallholder settings.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvidence points to some seasonality linked to natural restrictions, even though Abergelle goats are sometimes thought of as breeding more freely than highly seasonal temperate breeds. Productivity studies indicate that Abergelle does have an average kidding interval of about 362 days and that seasonal impacts on kid survival and birth weights suggest periods of increased and decreased reproductive activity. In their natural habitat, mating typically occurs after the main rainy season, when food is abundant. This results in newborns during times when feed is more readily available, as opposed to just \"early summer\" or \"spring to early winter.\" \u003csup\u003e6\u003c/sup\u003e Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing free-ranging goats with better energy and protein source feeds productive and reproductive performance of Abergelle does.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Material and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDescription of the study area\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted at Aybra, a research station of Sekota Dryland Agriculture Research Center, Ethiopia. Study site Location and other climate data descriptions are presented in\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGeographical and climatic characteristics of the study site.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStudy site\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLatitude\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLongitude\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAltitude (m a.s.l.)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRainfall (mm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperature (\u0026deg;C)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAybra\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u0026deg;43\u0026prime;65\u0026Prime;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39\u0026deg;02\u0026prime;027\u0026Prime;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1978\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e300\u0026ndash;700\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eNotes\u003c/em\u003e:\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003e\u0026bull; Altitude\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;meters above sea level (m a.s.l.)\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003e\u0026bull; Temperature\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;mean annual temperature in \u0026deg;C\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.1 Does and management practices\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty-four Abergelle does were selected from the local market. Goats of known fertility were maintained in isolation from the sight, sound, and smell of bucks for 6 weeks before the trial. Does were randomly divided into three groups: T1, T2, and T3 (free grazing, supplemented with wheat bran 200gm, (12%CP) plus cowpea 350 g (19%CP), and supplemented wheat bran 200gm, (12%CP) plus noug seed cake 200g (26%CP), respectively. The experiment was arranged with an RCBD design with three treatments and 8 replications. All the experiments does were tagged with an identification ear tag. Does were offered 200 g of wheat bran\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;350gm cowpea and 200 g wheat bran\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;200 g noug seed cake g/head/day of concentrate served in large plastic beans scattered throughout the pen, in the evenings. Does were weighed one month later (1st April) and at parturition (September). Feeding management was done as per standard feeding practices recommended by \u003csup\u003e7\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.2Buck management\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSix healthy adult bucks used in this experiment were sourced from the Sekota Dryland Agricultural Research center (body weight, 40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5 kg) with previous mating experience and a history of adequate kidding percentages in flocks were allowed to join the does. These animals were kept in a ruffed cement floor pen one month before breeding, where they had free access to water and a mineral mix. Twice daily, bucks were offered cowpea hay ad libitum consumption. In addition, each animal was fed a daily 50% concentrate mix (two bucks per group) for 17 days during April 2019. The animals were randomly allocated into three treatment groups (T1, T2, T3). This feeding strategy is in line with earlier goat flushing and supplementation research that found that giving goats extra energy and protein sources before mating increases mating efficiency and reproductive success \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, \u003csup\u003e9\u003c/sup\u003e. Every technique was used in compliance with applicable rules and regulations, and all reporting adheres to the ARRIVE criteria. The experimental protocol was authorized ARARI Ethics Committee, SDARC/LRD/2021/13. After the experiment was over, all of the animals were returned to the research farm; none were put to death or slaughtered during the study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Data collection and Statistical analyses","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Initial weight, weight before breeding, mating date, abortion, kidding date, litter size, birth weight of kids, postpartum weight, and other important data were recorded. Data were coded in Microsoft Excel and arranged for analysis. The GLM procedure of R4.1 was used to perform data analysis. Each of the means was separated with the Duncan test, and the fed with T-test significant differences were tested at \u0026alpha; = 0.05. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Result and Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn line with reports that short-term nutritional flushing or dietary supplementation around breeding increases live weight, improves hormonal profiles, and shortens time to first conception in goats, supplementing does with a concentrate mixture (in this case, 200 g wheat bran + 350 g cowpea) increased live-weight gain and significantly shortened days to conception (P \u0026lt; 0.05). Following dietary additive/supplement interventions, Black Bengal and other goat breeds have shown comparable effects of targeted supplementation on live weight and enhanced reproductive performance\u003csup\u003e8\u003c/sup\u003e. The interpretation of this trial that the concentrate mix improved ovulation/conception efficiency is supported by the Scientific Reports studies I found, which link improved live weights from supplementation with earlier/shorter time to conception, improved estrus expression, and better reproductive outcomes.\u003csup\u003e10\u003c/sup\u003e In comparison to T3 and T1, the supplemented group (T2) was about 5 kg heavier (P \u0026lt; 0.01) at kidding at parturition. This is consistent with previous findings that higher live weights at kidding are maintained by receiving increased energy/protein supplementation before and during pregnancy, which is positively associated with better kidding outcomes (e.g., higher conception rates, higher litter sizes) in goats. This results in a line\u003csup\u003e10\u003c/sup\u003e.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe kid\u0026apos;s birth weights at parturition varied little between treatments; T3 (1.66 kg) and T1 (1.75 kg) had similar mean values (Table 2). The increased twinning rate (85%) observed in T3 may be linked to the comparatively lower birth weight in this group, which most likely resulted in a dilution of the intrauterine nutrition supply per fetus. Despite this, the does\u0026apos; total body weight was higher in T2 than in T1, suggesting that concentrate supplementation improved the mother\u0026apos;s physical condition. It is well recognized that greater bodily health before and during pregnancy improves ovulation rates, conception success, and fetal growth, all of which improve reproductive outcomes\u003csup\u003e11\u003c/sup\u003e.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 2 | Effect of nutritional flushing on body weight, daily gain, conception rate, and abortion rate of Abergelle goats.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrait\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT2\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT3\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBW before mating (kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22.3 \u0026plusmn; 3.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.4 \u0026plusmn; 3.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.9 \u0026plusmn; 3.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBW at mating (kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21.8 \u0026plusmn; 3.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.4 \u0026plusmn; 4.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.1 \u0026plusmn; 4.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBW change (kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.37\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.77\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMating date after flushing (days)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.14 \u0026plusmn; 7ᶜ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.14 \u0026plusmn; 1ᵃ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6 \u0026plusmn; 9ᵇ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaily gain (g/day)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-12.33ᵇ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38ᵃ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.66ᵃ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConception rate (%)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e87.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e87.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbortion rate (%)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNotes:\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eValues with different superscript letters (a, b, c) within a row are significantly different (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; 0.05).\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eBW = body weight.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Table 3: Live body weight changes of experimental animals across treatments\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"620\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 129px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eweight before breeding (kg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eweight during breeding (kg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDaily weight gain (kg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eKidd\u0026rsquo;s birth weight (kg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 129px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22.3 \u0026plusmn; 3.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21.8\u0026plusmn; 3.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-12.33\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.75\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 129px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.4 \u0026plusmn;3.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.4\u0026plusmn; 4.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.25\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 129px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.9 \u0026plusmn;3.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.1\u0026plusmn; 4.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.66\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.66\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eT1 =control, T2= 200g wheat bran +350g cowpea and T3= 200g wheat bran + 200g noug cake\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe current research shows that supplementing does strategically with a suitable amount of concentrate improves their overall physiological status, which supports shorter intervals between conceptions, higher rates of twinning, higher birth weights for the offspring, and improved maternal capacity to feed the newborns. Similar findings were found in prior research on meat and indigenous goat breeds, where nutrient flushing boosted pregnancy and kidding rates as well as postnatal performance\u003csup\u003e12\u003c/sup\u003e,\u003csup\u003e13\u003c/sup\u003e,\u003csup\u003e14\u003c/sup\u003e.\u0026nbsp;Moreover, providing native goats with nutritional supplements\u0026nbsp;before mating and throughout the first few months of pregnancy greatly improves the effectiveness of reproduction and the growth performance of the offspring\u003csup\u003e15\u003c/sup\u003e,\u003csup\u003e13\u003c/sup\u003e. The significance of targeted supplementation as an economical method of enhancing reproductive productivity in smallholder production systems is further highlighted by the results\u0026apos; congruence with previous studies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 4: Some reproductive characteristics of does across the treatments\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"620\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 129px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMating date (days)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eConception rate (%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eKidding rate(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTwining rate (%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 129px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.14\u0026plusmn;7\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e87.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e87.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 129px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.14\u0026plusmn;1\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 129px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u0026plusmn;9\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e87.5\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e87.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 123px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eT1 =control, T2= 200g wheat bran +350g cowpea and T3= 200g wheat bran + 200g noug cake\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the breeding season, variations in feed intake between Treatment 2 (T2) and Treatment 3 (T3) were examined using an independent t-test with an alpha level of 0.05. Table 3 displays descriptive statistics. Goats in T2 consumed considerably more feed than goats in T3 (p \u0026lt; 0.05), according to the data, suggesting that the food supplied under T2 was better consumed. This increased consumption could be explained by the almost equal amounts of roughage and concentrate provided in T2, which probably enhanced voluntary intake and palatability. In order to meet the increased energy and protein requirements required for successful reproductive activity, greater feed intake during the breeding phase is essential\u003csup\u003e12\u003c/sup\u003e,\u003csup\u003e16\u003c/sup\u003e,\u003csup\u003e17\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShort-term dietary incentive effects, which trigger metabolic and hormonal reactions that affect ovarian activity, may potentially be connected to the higher feed intake seen in T2. Goat conception and ovulation rates have been demonstrated to rise with short-term flushing and concentrate supplementation, supporting the notion that better nutrition availability during mating improves reproductive results\u003csup\u003e8\u003c/sup\u003e. Short-term increases in food intake raise blood glucose and insulin concentrations, which in turn stimulate follicular growth and enhance the rate of ovulation in goats\u003csup\u003e15\u003c/sup\u003e.\u0026nbsp;This implies that enhanced metabolic circumstances favorable to reproduction may have been supported by T2\u0026apos;s greater food availability. The results thus show that feed intake, metabolic condition, and ultimately reproductive effectiveness in does can be positively impacted by supplementing with an ideal amount of concentrate and forage both before and during breeding.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 5. Daily feed intake during the breeding season\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFeed\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 155px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 157px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMean (gm)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 155px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 157px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e429.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36.55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 155px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 157px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e246.31\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e90.68\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"4\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 624px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT2 supplemented 200g wheat bran plus 350g cowpea, and T3 200g wheat bran plus 200g noug seed cake.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eT2 and T3 at the various feeding levels were compared using an independent t-test. During parturition, Treatment 2 (200 g wheat bran, 12% CP + 350 g cowpea, 19% CP) was more appealing and ingested more than Treatment 3 (T2 vs T3, p \u0026lt; 0.05). This increased consumption of T2 may have supported reproductive performance by improving metabolic condition during breeding and parturition. The amount and kind of cowpea employed, as well as whether it replaces or supplements concentrates, appear to determine the results across trials, despite some prior reports suggesting that adding cowpea hay can improve animal performance and overall dry-matter consumption\u003csup\u003e18\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 6. Daily feed intake during Parturition\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeed\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eN\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMean (gm)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSD\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT2\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e431.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e47.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT3\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e242.09\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 160px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e132.98\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"4\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 638px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eT2 supplemented 200g wheat bran, plus 350g cowpea, and T3 200g wheat bran plus 200g noug seed cake.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusion and Recommendations","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study shows that important reproductive and productive qualities are improved when free-ranging Abergelle goats are strategically supplemented throughout the dry season. Better intake, improved metabolic conditions, and improved overall performance were the outcomes of giving a balanced energy-protein meal before breeding and during the last month of gestation. In particular, giving 200 g wheat bran and 200 g noug seed cake for 30 days during the breeding period increased the likelihood of twinning, whereas supplementing each goat with 200 g wheat bran and 350 g cowpea for 30 days supported better reproductive outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn order to increase the reproductive efficiency of native goats in semi-arid areas, we advise implementing focused, short-term supplementation measures. The practical usefulness of these solutions for smallholder production situations will be strengthened by additional research evaluating longer reproductive cycles, higher herd sizes, and economic viability.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contribution:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eA.D. was involved with all the processes of the experiment and analyzed the data with a full write-up. A.G. developed the proposal, A.A. edited the manuscript, E.A.\u0026amp; T.K. followed up on the experiment, and B.W. edited the manuscript. Writing-review and editing., A.D., A.G., A.A., E.A., T.K., and B.W. edited the manuscript; all authors have read and agreed to the publication version of the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThis research was conducted as part of the SDARC Research program of the Livestock research program, supported by contributors to the SDARC.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstitutional Review Board Statement:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (or Ethics Committee) of Bahir Dar ARARI\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInformed Consent Statement:\u003c/strong\u003e Not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability Statement:\u003c/strong\u003e The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgments:\u003c/strong\u003e The authors thank the SDARC Livestock Research program.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interest:\u003c/strong\u003e The authors declare no conflict of interest.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTeixeira, I. A. M. A., H\u0026auml;rter, C. J., Vargas, J. A. C., Souza, A. P., \u0026amp; Fernandes, M. H. M. R. Review: Update of nutritional requirements of goats for growth and pregnancy in hot environments. \u003cem\u003eAnimal\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e18\u003c/strong\u003e, 101219 (2024).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJemberu, W. T., Li, Y., Asfaw, W., \u0026amp; Knight-Jones, T. J. Population, biomass, and economic value of small ruminants in Ethiopia. \u003cem\u003eFront. Vet. Sci.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e9\u003c/strong\u003e, 972887 (2022). doi:10.3389/fvets 2022.972887. Academic Journals\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTesfaye, A., Asmare, B., Abiso, T. \u0026amp; Wamatu, J. Effect of nutritional flushing using long-term energy and protein supplementation on growth performance and reproductive parameters of Doyogena ewes in Ethiopia. \u003cem\u003eVeterinary Sci.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e10\u003c/strong\u003e, 368 (2023). doi:10.3390/vetsci10060368. 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Pak J Zool. 2020;52(1):457\u0026ndash;463.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMellado M, Antonio JR, Meza-Herrera C, et al. Reproductive response to concentrate supplementation of mixed-breed goats on rangeland. Small Rumin Res. 2020; 190:106181.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAhmed ME, Shehata EI. Effects of dietary treatment on reproductive and productive performance in goats. Journal name not provided. 2011; 6:7\u0026ndash;14.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnim OJ, Res F. Effects of nutritional supplementation on goat performance. Journal name not provided. 2023;13(3).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZabuli J, Tanaka T, Lu W, Kamomae H. Intermittent nutritional stimulus by short-term high-energy diet promotes ovarian performance and increases circulating glucose and insulin in cycling goats. Anim Reprod Sci. 2010; 122:8509.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmare B, Girmay A. Effect of dietary cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) hay as a replacement for concentrate on performance and economic efficiency of Abergelle goats. Journal name not provided. 2020; 10:313\u0026ndash;320.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZabuli, J., Tanaka, T., Lu, W. \u0026amp; Kamomae, H. Intermittent nutritional stimulus by short-term treatment of high-energy diet promotes ovarian performance together with increases in blood levels of glucose and insulin in cycling goats. \u003cem\u003eAnim. Reprod. Sci.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e122\u003c/strong\u003e, 288\u0026ndash;293 (2010).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmare, B. \u0026amp; Girmay, A. Effect of dietary supplemented cowpea (\u003cem\u003eVigna unguiculata\u003c/em\u003e) hay as a replacement of concentrate on performance and economic efficiency of Abergelle goats. \u003cem\u003eInt. J. Agric. Biosci.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e10\u003c/strong\u003e, 313\u0026ndash;320 (2020). \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Abergele goats, flushing scheme, supplementation, reproductive performance, body weight, birth weight","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8167910/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8167910/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study was designed to evaluate the response of Abergelle goats to the flushing scheme before and after conception and determine the appropriate feed level for breeding does. Twenty-four Abergelle does were used in the experiment. Animals were randomly divided into three groups: T1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;free grazing; T2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;supplemented wheat bran plus cowpea hay (200gram\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;350gram), and T3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;supplemented wheat bran plus noug cake (200gram\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;200gram). Six adult bucks were assigned (two bucks per group) for 30 days in April 2019 for mating purposes. The result revealed that there was a significant difference (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) among treatments in the kidding weight of Does. The highest was recorded for T2 (5 kg) followed by T3 (1.8 kg) and the lowest was in T1 (0.4kg). The negative average daily gain was recorded T1 during pregnancy. However, there was no significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) difference among treatments in pregnancy rate. The body weight at kidding was somewhat similar in T1(1.66kg) and T3 (1.75kg), respectively; this is because of the high rate of twinning of T3(85%) and T1(0%). However, it was found that the birth weight of kids was much higher than does in T2 (2.25). The twinning rate of does in T3(85%) was higher than does in T2 and T1. The birth weight of kids from does in T2(2.25kg) was significantly higher than in T1(1.77kg) and T3(1,66kg). It was concluded that supplementing free-ranging goats under dry season with wheat bran plus cowpea hay (200gram\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;350gram) feeds has been found effective in improving the body weight gain and reproductive performance of Abergele does.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Effect of Concentrate Flushing on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Abergele Goats","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-09 09:15:08","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8167910/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-04-03T09:14:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-02T12:22:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-02T04:09:44+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"50516261759969167288082152150345849199","date":"2026-03-30T06:35:15+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"65906036825023192385415372504031613677","date":"2026-03-28T17:24:06+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"114008112277265213654387850118243774215","date":"2026-03-28T13:26:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"322864345407400630820848716353933300984","date":"2026-03-28T12:40:35+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-28T12:28:57+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-13T07:34:18+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-08T17:57:39+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-12-05T21:02:06+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-12-05T20:57:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"13f3223d-2def-4594-b0db-b9496737a819","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 9th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":59299587,"name":"Biological sciences/Physiology"},{"id":59299588,"name":"Biological sciences/Zoology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-11T16:08:44+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-09 09:15:08","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8167910","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8167910","identity":"rs-8167910","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}