Effect of bovine colostrum on growth and survival in Red kids during the first year of life.

The aim of this work was to measure the effect of supplementation with bovine colostrum among newborn Red goats breastfed in breeding conditions for semi-intensive type of Niger. The study was conducted in Secondary Goat Breeding Center of Maradi (SGBCM). Forty newborn kids, regardless of sexe, were divided randomly into two groups: a "T-Control " group receiving only breast milk per feeding (n = 20) and a "C-Colostrum" group having the same diet but supplemented with bovine colostrum thawed (50 ml the first day of life, then 25 ml in 2 meals/ day between the ages of 2 and 15d, n = 20). The results indicate that supplementation with bovine colostrum in the first 15 days of life, increases the growth of kids until weaning (P<0.001), modifie some barymetric changes some settings improves health status and reduces the mortality rate. To our knowledge, in the studied environment, this work is original and seems to bring new knowledges likely to have practical applications in areas with farming conditions quite difficult.