EFFECT OF GOAT MILK, COW MILK, COW MILK REPLACER AND PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF THE REPLACER MIXTURE WITH WHEY ON ARTIFICIAL FEEDING OF FEMALEKIDS

The objective was to study a feeding system for female kids that could utilise whey from goat cheese making or a milk replacer. Six feeding groups were tested: one using a commercial cow milk replacer, three us ing 20%, 35% and 50% whey in the water needed for the cow milk replace r mixture; another study compared whole cow milk with whole goat milk provided during nursing. Fifteen kids were artificially fed in each tr eatment. Kids were Alpine, Saanen or Toggenburg separated randomly amo ng treatments. Kids were born from November until January weighing an average of 3.3 kg at birth. Results showed an average daily weight gai n (DWG) of 153 g for commercial cow milk replacer; for whey and partia l water substitution DWG values were 152, 168 (P < 0.05) and 152 g for 20%, 35% and 50% whey mixture. Kids fed whole cow milk gained 170 g d ay(-1) (P < 0.05); those fed whole goat milk had a DWG of 167 g (P < 0 .05). When 35% whey was employed, DWG was similar (168 g) to those obt ained with whole goat or cow milk. Of the six treatments, kids fed who le goat milk, whole cow milk or cow milk replacer mixed with 35% whey did not show significant differences in growth (P > 0.05), Kids fed on ly cow milk replacer in 20% mixture with whey performed significantly less well than the others (P < 0.05), Kids fed cow milk replacer in 50 % whey had comparable growth at the beginning, but severe diarrhoea af fected most of the kids resulting in significantly lower DWG values (P < 0.05); 12 of the 15 animals had digestive disorders at least once d uring the study, but only one died, so growth was irregular, Our resul ts showed that whey could enhance the nutritional quality of a milk re placer probably due to protein enhancement. However, whey offered in l arger percentages in the water mixture promptly produced diarrhoea in the kids, leading to lower growth performances. Kids showed comparable results when cow or goat milk was offered. However, cow milk came fro m an Ayrshire that produced a high fat milk. Goat or cow whole milk co st 36 US cents, cow milk replacer 25 US cents; whey as a cheese by-pro duct did not add to the cost of milk replacer, so all whey mixtures we re calculated at 25 US cents per kilogram.