AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE www.arccjournals.com Indian J. Anim. Res., 48 (1) : 71-74, 2014 DOI- 10.5958/j.0976-0555.48.1.015 EFFECTS OF STEAMING-UP ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GRAZING DOES AND THEIR KIDS IN ARID REGION A.S. Sirohi* , A.K. Patel, B.K. Mathur, A.K. Misra and M. Singh Division of Livestock Production Systems and Range Management, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur- 342 003, India Received: 19-11-2012 Accepted: 30-01-2013 ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of steaming-up on the performance of grazing does in arid region of Rajasthan. Twenty-four goats carrying last trimester of pregnancy were selected and divided randomly into untreated (T 0 ) and treated (T 1 ) groups having 12 goats in each. Animals of both the groups were let loosed for grazing in the morning and were offered concentrate feed in the evening. Goats of T 1 group were fed additional concentrate feed @ 300g per animal per day. Average body weight gain of goats was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in T 1 group (4.04± 0.34 kg) than in T 0 (2.07± 0.40 kg) during the last month of gestation. Kids from steamed-up goats were born with significantly (P< 0.05) higher body weight and maintained higher average daily gain up to weaning. Total blood protein value was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in does of T 1 group during late gestation. It was concluded that the steaming-up could increase energy status in goats around kidding and the kids from these dams were born with higher body weight. Key words: Arid region, Does, Performance, Steaming-up. INTRODUCTION Despite the harsh environment, livestock farming is the major economic activity contributing substantially (up to two third of total earning) to the farmers’ income in the arid areas (Bohra et al., 2012). Among various livestock species, small ruminants make a key component of smallholder production systems in the dry areas of Rajasthan. These animals are important assets particularly during drought periods to the farmers of this region. This region of Rajasthan inhabits 54.4% of total goats of the state (Anonymous, 2012). These animals are maintained almost entirely on grazing round the year, where the availability of grasses/fodder varies greatly. The lack of knowledge about various aspects of good management practices for sustainable livestock production was identified as the major reason of low productivity of livestock in Rajasthan (Rathore et al., 2010). Therefore, strategic feeding to animals must be the first priority to get optimum production with limited resources. The demand of energy increases in advanced pregnant animals for *Corresponding author’s e-mail: ajaysirohi35@gmail.com proper growth of foetus and for higher production in coming lactation. Devendra (1988) reported that high producer animals did not prove themselves in the tropics due to low feed intake and also that a 50% increase in live weight could be attained by improved nutrition. In dry regions, only grazing can not support the complete requirement of nutrients in the last stage of pregnancy and hence an additional ration is recommended for these animals. The findings on feeding of additional ration or steaming-up during late gestation in arid does to explore their potential are very scanty. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to assess the effects of steaming-up on the performance of pregnant and lactating does and their kids in arid region. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental animals and their management: The present experiment was conducted at goat and sheep research unit, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur. Twenty-four pregnant goats (Marwari and Parbatsari) were divided into two groups based on their body weight and genetic make- up. These animals were bred in the month of