English

Abstract

Climate change has severely affected rainfall regularity, limiting grass growth and thus fodder availability. Finding unconventional resources has become a challenge for small and medium breeders to feed their livestock. The objective of this study is to determine whether the use of marine plant debris, Posidonia oceanica, as total or partial replacement of oat hay in alpine goat diets will affect or not milk yield and quality. The sea grass was characterized according to the sampling site. Chemical and phytochemical analysis revealed significantly higher levels of dry matter, minerals, total polyphenols and carotenoids in P. oceanica on banquettes than in floating Posidonia. The condensed tannin content was almost the same for both sites. Partial or total replacement of oat hay by P. oceanica in alpine goat rations significantly increased milk production and milk fat content, while somatic cell count decreased significantly. In addition, P. oceanica significantly enhanced milk biochemical composition by increasing flavonoid and total phenol contents. However, protein, lactose and freezing point parameters were not affected. Sensory analysis revealed substantial improvement in the organoleptic quality of P. oceanica fed goats’ milk compared to the other group, which was highly appreciated by most of the panelists. The seagrass P. ocanica could therefore be a safe solution to improve fodder availability for small and medium breeders, reduce production costs and increase milk market value. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers