Mineral and Vitamin supplementation effect on reproduction in Angora goats
By Dr Mackie Hobson BSc(Agric),BVSc

1. Reproduction

Mineral and Vitamin supplementation effect on reproduction in Angora goats

There is no injection or dose of minerals and vitamins that can compensate for poor genetics and nutrition!

When walking into the co-op the Angora goat farmer may be faced with a minefield of mineral and vitamin products that may enhance reproduction. Are they needed?

A few examples:

To answer the question we need to look at trials of mineral and vitamin supplementation on Angora goats and their influence on reproduction.

What has been the effect on reproduction by supplementation of minerals and Vitamins in  Angora goats in trials conducted?

1. A study by P.G.Marais was conducted under different environmental conditions. The trial with Merino and Dorper sheep, Boer goats and Angora goats and was repeated over four years. The stock was injected with a commercial vitamin A product 4 - 6 weeks prior to mating and again 4 - 6 weeks before lambing.

• It was evident that vitamin A supplementation had no effect on reproduction and production traits measured in this trial.

2. In trials by Grootfontein (Bacs, Snyman, Kilian) that supplementing minerals and vitamins every 6-8 weeks resulted in:

• Better density and motility of sperm
• No difference on teste traits or semen quality

3. Trials by mineral manufacturer (Multimin) to determine the effect on reproduction traits of Angora goats indicated that:
   • Pregnancy rates were improved by 0.7%
   • Kidding by 1.1%
   • Weaning by 4.6 %

These results are significantly lower than found in Sheep. This may be due to the browsing nature of the goats. Browse plants usually have higher mineral concentrations than grass and so Angoras are generally less likely to have mineral deficiencies than sheep. Karroo bush also tends to remain green in non-drought years through the winter. Mineral deficiencies will become evident as goats become more intensively managed under commercial conditions.

4. Trials by J.H.Hoon were done where Angora goats were supplemented  with Zn, Mn and Se in different areas in the karoo. From the results it would appear that:

• supplementation of Zn, Mn and Se by means of commercial product in  had a positive effect on the reproduction of Angora ewes, although differences were relatively small at most localities.
• At some localities, however, no differences in production and reproduction traits could be observed and some of the results were even in favour of the control groups.
• From the mean blood Se values, it would appear that supplementation of goats specifically with Se, will not be of economic value to the producer.

It must be noted that Vit A levels will be determined by the veld condition and will be significantly lower in winter veld and in times of drought. 

The only source of Vit A and E for the kid is via the colostrum as it does not cross the placenta and hence supplementation 4-6 weeks before kidding in times of drought or dry winter should be considered.

Most of a dose of Vit A is excreted within a week and the remainder stored in the liver. These liver reserves may last for 6 months in the Angora goat.

Are  Mineral and Vitamin supplements required on Lucerne lands?

Mineral supplementation- Lucerne is high in Calcium and Sulpher which has a suppressive effect on Selenium, Manganese and Zinc levels.

• Supplementation of these minerals is generally advised 4-6 weeks before kidding or for any goats which graze lucerne for extended periods.
• Vitamin A is synthesized from carotene, which is present in green plants, so supplementation on lucern lands is not required (when just lucerne hay is fed then Vit A supplement is required)

Remember intake of pasture lucerne before mating can reduce ovulation rates by 20% by reducing the number of eggs shed per oestrus and reducing the proportion of eggs fertilised. The presence of leaf diseases, insect damage and severe moisture stress can all increase coumestans levels. Coumestan-induced infertility is generally considered as temporary. Ram semen appears not to be effected. Lucern hay has much lower levels of oestrogenic hormones and has not reportedly affected fertility.

The general advice is not to feed high risk Lucerne pasture to breeding Angora ewes in the 21 days prior to and during mating.

Remember many factors effect semen quality and quantity:

• Age
• Body weight and condition
• Testis size
• Season
• Nutrition (trial evidence)
• Sperm production, as well as total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, can be improved diet by increasing energy and protein levels in the diet. Parker & Thwaites (1972), Braden et al. (1974), Foote (1978), Oldham et al. (1978), Alkass et al. (1982), Fernández et al. (2004) and Kheradmand et al. (2006)
• The proportion of live and dead spermatozoa is not affected by dietary treatment (Kheradmand et al., 2006).
• A protein deficiency will result in a reduced quality and sexual activity. (Okolski et al., 1971; Brown, 1994).
• A deficiency in protein could be responsible for depressed testicular growth and spermatogenesis of rams (Oldham et al., 1978)

Conclusion:

Good nutrition is critical. There are also however times when supplementation with minerals will make a significant difference to reproductive performance in Angora goats.

Mineral supplementation:

• Ewes and Rams prior to mating in times of dry veld and drought
• Ewes 4-6 weeks before kidding
• Rams and Ewes that have been grazing Lucerne

Vitamins A, E:

• Ewes and Rams before mating when the veld is dry or times of drought
• Ewes 4 weeks before kidding

No supplement can replace GOOD NUTRITION!

For those interested in the role of Minerals and Vitamins in reproduction

Zinc is essential in the production of many of the sex hormones, including testosterone and gonadotrophin releasing hormone It is also involved in ribonuclease activity and spermatozoa maturation during spermatogenesis and enhances sperm motility. Supplementation with zinc increases daily sperm production and reduces the proportion of abnormal spermatozoa.

Selenium (Se) and Vitamin E play a biological role as cell antioxidant by preventing damage by oxygen and various peroxides formed from fatty acids.  In goats deficiencies can result in poor growth, lower reproduction rates due to reabsorption of fertilised eggs and suppression of sperm activity, early born, weak kids.

Vitamin A is involved during spermatogonia differentiation and spermatid adhesion regulation. An advanced deficiency of Vitamin A causes degeneration of the seminiferous tubules and testicular atrophy. Vitamin A and iodine deficiency impair the ram’s libido.

Mn (Manganese) deficiencies are mainly characterised by delayed, very short and irregular oestrus, poor conception especially in young ewes, normally developed but still born kids,

Deficiency of iodine, copper and manganese levels in the diet can cause abortion and lowered reproductice performance.

Vitamin D is seldom considered deficient but Vit ADE could be supplemented in late pregnancy when the ewe loses large amounts of Ca and P to the foetus. Symptoms of a Vit D deficiency would be that of a Ca deficiency.

Vitamin E functions as an antioxidant in conjunction with selenium and marginal deficiencies can be significant. Effects of a combined vitamin E/ Selenium deficiency are well documented and include poor reproduction, poor growth and mortalities in kids. Deficiencies result in striated muscle damage in young animals (tongue affected and can’t suckle), retained placentas. Vitamin E is therefore particularly important in areas with marginal or deficient levels of selenium. Stress situations are regarded as precipitating factors for Vit E deficiencies.  Green feed has high levels of vitamin E so again may be deficient in winter veld.

Defficiencies are rare and consult your local veterinarian as he will know your area. Liver, blood and water samples can be taken as the best indicator of your animals’ deficiencies. You need to check about 5 samples in a flock. It is worth checking samples in both winter and summer as this may differ on each farm

Minerals should not be over supplemented.

The range between safe and toxic levels is quite narrow for many of the minerals unlike vitamins which are easily excreted if in excess. Due to the complex interactions between minerals, excess consumption of one mineral may decrease absorption and/or utilisation of another. Caution should be observed particularly when the likely Copper status of the flock has not been established as Copper toxicity is not uncommon, although it is thought to be less of a problem in Angora goats as compared to sheep.

Common multi-mineral supplements available contain Manganese, Zinc, Selenium and Copper can be given at a low-end dose at 4-6 weeks before kidding where no specific mineral analysis has been done. However If there is any suspicion of undesired effects, this should be discontinued and analysis of tissue samples (or blood) carried out.

Dr Mackie Hobson

REFERENCE

EFFECT OF FREQUENCY OF MINERAL AND VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON SEMEN QUALITY OF ANGORA GOAT SIRES.

1. Baca, M.A. Snyman & E. Kilian

Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute

Reproduction and trace minerals

 JH Hoon . Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute

Okolski et al., 1971; Brown, 1994.

Hambidge et al., 1986

Smith & Akinbamijo, 2000, Cheah & Yang, 2011