Effect of melatonin on growth performance in Saanen kids

Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the growth performance of Saanen kids and to reveal the effects of maternal age, type of birth (single, twin or multiple), and sex on the properties of melatonin hormone to improve their growth performance. The research was carried out at Bursa Uludag University Research and Application Center of Veterinary Medicine. The animal material for the study consisted of 35 Saanen kids. Birth weight, 30^th day, 60^th day, 90^th day, and 120^th day live weights of Saanen kids were observed as 3.29 kg, 8.02 kg, 12.68 kg, 18.41 kg, and 21.26 kg, respectively. Birth weights were affected by maternal age and sex (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between body weight and birth type. Comparisons of body weight between the 30^th day melatonin-treated and 60^th day melatonin-treated groups and the control group showed no significant differences. The findings underscore the potential of melatonin as a growth-promoting agent in goat farming, aligning with previous research that has demonstrated its positive effects on growth trajectories in various livestock species. Moreover, maternal age was found to positively influence birth weights, while no significant differences were observed based on the birth type. These findings contribute valuable insights into optimizing growth strategies in goat husbandry, highlighting the need for further comprehensive studies to fully elucidate the mechanisms and long-term effects of melatonin supplementation on growth and development in Saanen goats.