Goat milk production and quality on Tanzania-grass pastures, with supplementation - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v34i4.14339

• Published in: Acta scientiarum. Animal sciences Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 417 - 423
• Main Authors: Ana Clara Rodrigues Cavalcante, Raniel Lustosa Moura, Marcônio Martins Rodrigues, Arnaud Azevedo Alves, Marcelo de Oliveira Alves Rufino, Marcos Cláudio Pinheiro Rogério
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Eduem) 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Anglo Nubian breed; efficiency; fat; intake
• ISSN: 1806-2636; 1807-8672

It was evaluated the production and quality of milk produced by goats grazing Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Tanzania (Guineagrass) and receiving four levels of concentrate supplementation. Eight Anglo Nubian goats, aged between two and four years, 43.6 kg in average body weight and between the 2 nd and 4 th lactation were distributed into two 4 x 4 balanced Latin square design. The supplementation levels were: 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of body weight. The concentrate was composed of corn and soybean meal. The intake of dry matter and nutrients, and the daily production of milk, 4% fat-corrected milk, fat, protein, lactose and total solids had increased (p < 0.05) with supplementation, whereas fat and total solids percentage were reduced (p < 0.05). The concentrate supplementation up to 1.5% of live weight in Tanzania-grass pasture raises the intake of dry matter and nutrients, resulting in a linear increase in milk production and of its components.