Test d'un complément minéral et azoté sur les paramètres de reproduction de la chèvre du Sahel burkinabé

The aim of this study was to assess over two periods (dry season and wet season) the effect of a mineral supplementation covering the needs in phosphorus, iodine, copper, zinc and manganese, in association with nitrogen supplementation, on the abortion rate and other reproduction parameters of 66 Burkinabe Sahelian does. The four diet treatments applied were: natural grazing (nG) only; nG + mineral supplementation; nG + nitrogen supplementation; and nG + mineral and nitrogen supplementation. The dry season results showed a significant effect of the mineral and/or nitrogen supplementation on the reduction of abortion incidence. The treatment which combined both mineral and nitrogen supplementation was the most efficient because no abortion was observed in the animals that benefited from it. Among the does that aborted during the dry season, primiparous does were the most affected (50% of abortion cases). No abortion was observed during the rainy season, thus indicating the uselessness to give pregnant does mineral and nitrogen supplementation during that season, when grazing resources are plentiful and of quality. During that season goat fecundity increased by over 12.3 points (in percentages), compared to that recorded during the dry season. Whatever the season, supplementation also improved other reproduction parameters such as the fertility rate, parturition rate, fecundity rate, and kids’ weight at birth.