Abstract :
This paper evaluated the growth performance of Criollo kids under three different rearing
systems and determine the economic profit of each rearing systems with slaughter at two
different ages. Forty-eight kids were distributed randomly into three groups (n = 16). Two
groups of kids were naturally reared with their mothers, suckling goat milk until weaning
at 30 and 45 days of age (groups N30 and N45, respectively). In the remaining group, kids
were artificially reared on milk replacer until 45 days of age (group A45). Between 30 and
90 days, all groups were ad libitum offered with a ration of alfalfa hay and ground corn.
Kids from each group were slaughtered at 60 (n = 8) and 90 (n = 8) days old. The growth
performance of kids was acceptable achieving average daily gain (ADG) values ranging
between 115.9 and 129.5 g d−1, with no major differences between rearing systems at the
end of the study. The natural rearing systems showed low values of gross return, which
ranged from −0.60 to 5.67 US$ kid−1, while the artificial rearing system was not economically
viable due to the high cost of milk replacer and high demand of labor. The price of
milk replacer should not exceed 20% of meat value so that artificial rearing becomes economically
feasible. The average gross return of the two natural rearing groups slaughtered
at 90 days (3.96 ± 1.46 US$ kid−1) was three times higher than the animals slaughtered at
60 days (1.25 ± 0.93 US$ kid−1). On the basis of the economic results it would be advisable
to raise the kids naturally with goat milk and increase the age of slaugther, as long as
consumers accept these older animals without decreasing the selling price of meat
