Determination of Milk Composition, Bacteriology and Selected Blood Parameters of Dairy Goats Under Different Feeding Systems

Abstract

This research was carried out at two farms located in the Karacabey region of Turkey: an extensive goat farm (A) and a semiintensive goat farm (B). A total of 32 Saanen goats (3 years old) at an early stage of their second lactation were selected from Farm A and Farm B. The total DM intake (TDM) values were 1.89 and 1.86 (kg d -1 ) for goats housed on the A and B farms, respectively. Compared with Farm A, Farm B produced more milk each day (P<0.05; 1.38 -. 1.76 kg day -1 ). The milk samples taken from Farm A had a higher (P<0.05) milk fat content than the samples from Farm B (milk fat=4.40 and 1.89 %, respectively). The serum creatinine values were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the blood of goats from farm A compared with farm B (1.11 and 0.56 mg dl-1, respectively). Comparison of glucose levels from both farms showed a significantly higher level of glucose in the blood samples from goats at Farm B (P<0.05;. Serum parameters for cholesterol, GGT and urea were not affected by the feeding system (P > 0.05). Contribution/ OriginalityThis study is one of very few studies which have investigated the milk composition, bacteriology and selected blood parameters of dairy goats under different feeding systems.