Effects of Olive Cake and Cactus Cladodes as Alternative Feed Resources on Goat Milk Production and Quality

Youssef Chebli,Jean-Luc Hornick,Samira El Otmani,Jean-François Cabaraux,Mouad Chentouf

doi:10.3390/agriculture11010003

Abstract

In the Mediterranean area, the olive cake (OC) and cactus cladodes (CC) are two alternative resources widely available that could be used for ruminants’ feeding. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of OC and/or CC diet incorporation on the production performance and quality of goat milk. Forty-four lactating goats were randomly allocated to four groups. The control one (Co) received a conventional feed. Test groups (TOC; TCC and TOC+CC) received 20% OC, 30% CC, or 15% OC and 20% CC, respectively, on concentrate dry matter basis. Over three months, milk production was evaluated, and samples were collected to analyze the milk quality. No significant differences were observed between control and test groups for daily milk production, yield, composition and acidity. In milk fat, OC incorporation increased C18:1n-9, mono-unsaturated (MUFA) and n-9 fatty acid (FA), and decreased 9t-C18:1 and poly-unsaturated FA (PUFA) (p < 0.05). Significantly highest contents of C15:0, C18:1n-9, and C21:0, and lowest levels of C4:0, 9t-C18:1, 6t-C18:2, C20:0, and PUFA were obtained with cactus cladodes administration (p < 0.05). The TOC + CC diet reduced C4:0, 9t-C18:1, 6t-C18:2, C22:6n-3, and PUFA proportions, and increased C18:1n-9, MUFA/PUFA, and thrombogenic indexes. The incorporation rates of OC and CC that could reach 20% and 30%, respectively, had no major negative effects on milk production performance, composition, and quality. Thus, they could be introduced in the diets of lactating goats.

Highlights

In the Southern Mediterranean region, goat farming is widely practiced, especially in mountainous areas, due to this species’ high adaptation ability [1]
This study aims to evaluate the effects of diets supplemented with olive cake (OC) and/or spiny cactus cladodes (CC) on goat milk production performance and quality
The study demonstrated that olive cake and cactus cladodes could be administrated in the lactating goat diet with rates that could reach 20% and 30% of the concentrate diet, respectively

Summary

Introduction

In the Southern Mediterranean region, goat farming is widely practiced, especially in mountainous areas, due to this species’ high adaptation ability [1]. As many studies have confirmed, these rangelands are characterized by limited and low forage availability and seasonal variability, especially during drought periods and when goats’ nutrient requirements are high (end of gestation, lactation, growth, and reproduction) [1,2,3]. These requirements of energy, nitrogen, and minerals increase greatly for transition goats (0–3 weeks after) when they give birth to more than one kid (most of the time twins and sometimes three kids) [4]. The use of by-products in the goat diet could allow for a reduction of feed cost and, an increase of farmers’ income, a warranty of livestock production sustainability, and the preservation of pasture lands by reducing grazing intensity [9,12]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion