Abstract
The use of local agricultural by-products for animal feed is an alternative that reduces livestock production costs and allows food production of greater environmental sustainability. The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of the inclusion in the dairy goat ration of artichoke by-product silage (ABS) at three levels (25%, 40% and 60%, on a dry matter basis) on the milk yield, composition and quality, and on the metabolic profile of dairy goats. Thirty-six Murciano-Granadina dairy goats in mid-lactation were divided into four groups with homogeneous characteristics. Each group was assigned a diet: a control treatment (C) that consisted of a conventional diet of alfalfa hay and concentrate, and three other treatments that included 25, 40 and 60% ABS: ABS25, ABS40 and ABS60. Small differences were observed in the milk yield and quality and the health status of the animals. Only ABS60 presented a slightly lower milk yield (−20% compared to control group), without relevant differences in the milk composition and mineral profile. Regarding the lipid profile, ABS40 was the treatment with the best milk quality, due to a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (4.37%) and lower atherogenicity (1.90) and thrombogenicity indices (3.05), without differences from C. It was concluded that the maximum inclusion level of ABS in dairy goats’ diet should be equal to 40%.
Highlights
Animal feeding represents 50–65% of the costs of a livestock farm [1]
From a group of 100 goats that were in mid-lactation fed with a conventional diet, pre-experimental sampling was carried out and 36 animals were selected, with an average body weight (BW) of 41.9 ± 6.24 kg, a parity of 2.5 ± 0.484 lactations, an average milk yield of 2.25 ± 0.71 kg/day and a somatic cell count (SCC) of
This can be explained by the presence of fermentation metabolites in artichoke by-product silage (ABS) diets and a higher
Summary
Animal feeding represents 50–65% of the costs of a livestock farm [1]. Some ingredients of animal rations, such as soybean, often come from far away, with the consequent costs and risk of contamination from transport. All of these activities have a negative impact on the animal production sector, both economically and environmentally. One solution to these problems could be the use of local by-products for animal feeding. The farming of artichoke for the food market entails a great availability of these by-products, which can be used in animal feed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
