Methionine Supplementation during Pregnancy of Goats Improves Kids' Birth Weight, Body Mass Index, and Postnatal Growth Pattern.

The last third of gestation is a period of high energy and protein demand for the dam to support fetal growth and the following onset of lactation. Methionine is an essential amino acid that contributes to protein formation, fetal development, and milk synthesis; thus, is likely to have positive effects on the weight and size of the newborn and, afterward, milk yield and milk composition, which may improve growth patterns of the progeny. To test these hypotheses, we used 60 pregnant multiparous Alpine goats with similar live weights and gestational ages (~Day 100 of pregnancy; Mean ± SD; 1410 ± 14 days old and 50.