Palm Kernel Cake in Diets for Lactating Goats: Intake, Digestibility, Feeding Behavior, Milk Production, and Nitrogen Metabolism

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the optimal inclusion rate of palm kernel cake (PKC) in diets for lactating goats based on intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, milk production and nitrogen metabolism. Twelve goats were used, eight Saanen and four Anglo Nubian, with a body weight of 46.0 ± 9.4 kg and 105 ± 5 days of lactation, distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square design in triplicate. The diets were composed of increasing levels of PKC; 0, 80, 160 and 240 g kg−1 of dry matter (DM). The DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and non-fibrous carbohydrates intakes decreased (p p = 0.001), and milk production efficiency was not affected (p > 0.05) by the PKC inclusion. The ether extract intake varied quadratically (p p p p −1 DM of PKC in the diet of lactating goats is recommended since at these levels milk production or body weight are significantly affected.

Keywords

• by-product
• goat
• milk production efficiency
• palm kernel cake
• performance
• small ruminant