This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics mobilization of body macrominerals and estimate dairy goats' maintenance and lactation requirements at the beginning of lactation. Fifty-one goats were slaughtered to estimate the body macromineral of the animals. Three goats (baseline) and forty-eight goats, with an initial body mass of 57.19 ± 8.4 kg, were assigned to a completely randomized design in eight weeks of lactation. Six goats were slaughtered per week. The intake of dry matter and minerals presented a quadratic behavior (P < 0.05) as the lactation advanced, except for the Mg intake. Milk yield and minerals were affected throughout the 56 days of lactation. Macrominerals decreased linearly in the empty body weight (EBW) (P < 0.05) with the advance in lactation. The weeks of lactation affected only the maintenance requirement of Mg (P = 0.021) and Na (P = 0.017). When analyzing lactation requirements, macrominerals decreased (P < 0.05) over the 56 days of lactation. However, only the total P and K requirements were not affected (P > 0.05). In conclusion, dairy goats in early lactation mobilize on average 12.1 ± 0.3 g Ca, 5.7 ± 0.2 g P, 0.9 ± 0.1 g Mg, 9.1 ± 0.2 g K, and 3.4 ± 0.1 g Na from EBW/day. cc
Read full abstract