The effect of cereal processing on the lactation performance of Chios sheep and Damascus goats and the pre-weaning growth of their offspring

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 93 - 104
• Main Authors: Economides, S., Georghiades, E., Koumas, A., Hadjipanayiotou, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1989
• Subjects: ALIMENT CONCENTRE; ALIMENTOS CONCENTRADOS; CAPRIN; CAPRINOS; CEREALE; CEREALES; CEREALS; CONCENTRATES; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; ELABORACION DE PIENSOS; FEED PROCESSING; FORRAJE GROSERO; FOURRAGE GROSSIER; GOATS; GROWTH; MILK YIELD; OVIN; OVINOS; RENDEMENT LAITIER; RENDIMIENTO LECHERO; ROUGHAGE; SHEEP; TRAITEMENT D'ALIMENTS POUR ANIMAUX
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/0377-8401(89)90009-6

Three trials with ewes and three with goats were conducted to study the effect of cereal processing (mash, pelleted and whole grains) on their milk yield and milk composition. In all trials, concentrates and roughages (long form) were offered from separate feed containers. Within trials, the roughage to concentrate ratios and the source and form of roughages were identical for the control and the treatment (whole grains) diets. In Trial 1 with ewes, milk yield and weight changes of ewes were similar for both the pelleted and whole grain diets during the pre-weaning period. During the post-weaning period ewes on the whole-grain diet produced milk of significantly higher fat content; fat yield was also higher. In the other two trials, a comparison between whole-grain and mash diets was made during the post-weaning period. Ewes on both diets produced similar milk yields, but the fat content of milk, the fat yield and the energy secreted in milk were significantly higher in ewes on the whole-grain diet. In the three trials with goats, milk yield and weight changes of goats were similar for both the whole-grain and the pelleted diet during the pre-weaning period. Results in the post-weaning period were similar to those before weaning except for fat content, which was higher in goats on the whole-grain diet.