Comparison between Types of Feeding on Goat Milk Composition

Abstract

Twenty lactating Carpatina goats were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with different levels of concentrates on composition of Carpatina goat milk. Goats in group A were confined and fed alfalfa hay with 1.32 kg/day of concentrate mixture. Group B, C and D were rotationally grazed and received 1.32, 0.66 and 0 Kg/day of concentrate supplementation, respectively. The results obtained from this experiment indicated that goats fed with high concentrate level and pasture grazing (Group B and C) produced milk with significantly higher contents of fat, protein, lactose and total solids than goats kept on pasture alone (Group D) or under a confined feeding system with concentrate and hays (Group A ). Grazing significantly increased the concentration of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as a-linolenic acid 0.49% (recorded from Group B). The milk from Group A (alfalfa hay and high concentrate) had an a-linolenic acid content of 0.38%.

Keywords

• feeding system
• goat milk composition