Effect of goat milk, cow milk, cow milk replacer and partial substitution of the replacer mixture with whey on artificial feeding of female kids

Abstract

The objective was to study a feeding system for female kids that could utilise whey from goat cheese making or a milk replacer. Six feeding groups were tested: one using a commercial cow milk replacer, three using 20%, 35% and 50% whey in the water needed for the cow milk replacer mixture; another study compared whole cow milk with whole goat milk provided during nursing. Fifteen kids were artificially fed in each treatment. Kids were Alpine, Saanen or Toggenburg separated randomly among treatments. Kids were born from November until January weighing an average of 3.3 kg at birth. Results showed an average daily weight gain (DWG) of 153 g for commercial cow milk replacer; for whey and partial water substitution DWG values were 152, 168 ( P < 0.05) and 152 g for 20%, 35% and 50% whey mixture. Kids fed whole cow milk gained 170 g day −1 ( P < 0.05); those fed whole goat milk had a DWG of 167 g ( P < 0.05). When 35% whey was employed, DWG was similar (168 g) to those obtained with whole goat or cow milk. Of the six treatments, kids fed whole goat milk, whole cow milk or cow milk replacer mixed with 35% whey did not show significant differences in growth ( P > 0.05). Kids fed only cow milk replacer in 20% mixture with whey performed significantly less well than the others ( P < 0.05). Kids fed cow milk replacer in 50% whey had comparable growth at the beginning, but severe diarrhoea affected most of the kids resulting in significantly lower DWG values ( P < 0.05); 12 of the 15 animals had digestive disorders at least once during the study, but only one died, so growth was irregular. Our results showed that whey could enhance the nutritional quality of a milk replacer probably due to protein enhancement. However, whey offered in larger percentages in the water mixture promptly produced diarrhoea in the kids, leading to lower growth performances. Kids showed comparable results when cow or goat milk was offered. However, cow milk came from an Ayrshire that produced a high fat milk. Goat or cow whole milk cost 36 US cents, cow milk replacer 25 US cents; whey as a cheese by-product did not add to the cost of milk replacer, so all whey mixtures were calculated at 25 US cents per kilogram.