Does reduce their feed intake prior to kindling. This may in part be due to reduced gut capacity, caused by the presence3 of the fetuses in the body cavity. Following kindling, as lactation begins, their feed intake increases markedly. Sometimes a young first of second litter doe will suddenly die when the litter is one to two weeks of age (young doe syndrome). This may be due to enterotoxemia or mastitis. It is desirable to gradually increase the amount of feed offered to the doe for thee first week or so following kindling unti full feed intake is reached. Sometimes apparently healthy litters will suddenly die at five or six das of age. This may be due to milk enterotoxemia, again caused by overfeeding the do following kindling. Be sure not to overreact and underfeed the doe, as this may reduce milk production excessively.
If an intensive breed-back system ()7-21 days is used, consideration should be given to keeping a doe on full feed once she goes into production. With the advent of high fiber- medium energy diets, the necessity of dropping the doe back to a restricted diet during the last part of gestation after weaning the first litter may be unnecessary. In fact, the energy demands of almost continuous gestation and lactation may necessitate continuous full feeding.
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