Effect of α-linoleic acid supplementation in goat’s diet on milk yield, quality and somatic cell count

Abstract

Investigation of the effect of α-linoleic acid (ALA) on goat’s milk production (daily milk yield, fat and protein content) and somatic cell count (SSC) and the persistence of this effect after supplement termination was conducted on 32 Alpine breed goats kept on an indoor Alpine farm. After adaptation period the animals were randomly allocated according to treatment into control group (G0) with no added supplement and test group (G1) where supplement containing ALA was added over a period of five days. Measurements of milk yield and sampling for analysis of milk composition in adaptation period, treatment period and first five days of period after treatment occurred every day at each milking (morning and evening). From the 5th to the 50th day of the after treatment period, measurements and sampling occurred every fifth day. Based on the conducted research it could be concluded that supplementation had no effect on milk yield; it had low effect on milk components and significant effect on SSC. This could be used as a method of choice for reduction of SCC in goat’s milk.