Recent research of feeding practices and the nutrition of lactating dairy goats

Abstract

Dairy goats can mobilize considerable body fat for support of milk production, but this can necessitate a high nutritional plane later for replenishment. Tissue mobilization during gestation should be controlled so as not to impair lactational performance. Dairy goats can markedly vary feeding behaviour in response to factors such as restricted periods of access; however, further studies are needed to address the efficiency of production. With some tolerance of goats to plant secondary metabolites and voluntary consumption of a wide array of materials, regionally available byproducts and other nonconventional feedstuffs can be used to minimize production costs. Dairy goats are resilient to moderately harsh environmental conditions, but more extreme ones should be addressed with anticipated future climate change. Some differences in the effects of dietary inclusion of fats and oils between dairy goats and cattle may relate to ruminal microbial conditions as well as the susceptibility of mammary gland enzymes to bioactive conjugated linoleic acid isomers. Much research is being conducted to improve the fatty acid composition of fat in goat milk in regard to effects on human health through the use of fats and oils as well as plant secondary metabolites, and effects on antioxidant status are increasingly being considered as well.

Keywords

• dairy goats
• feeding practices
• nutrition