Influence of forage: concentrate ratio and type of starch in the diet on feeding behaviour, dietary preferences, digestion, metabolism and performance of dairy goats in mid lactation
Ja. Abijaoude et al., Influence of forage: concentrate ratio and type of starch in the diet on feeding behaviour, dietary preferences, digestion, metabolism and performance of dairy goats in mid lactation, ANIM SCI, 71, 2000, pp. 359-368
In a 12-week trial, 12 Alpine and 12 Saanen dairy goats in mid lactation we
re housed in individual stalls for behavioural, digestive and metabolic stu
dies. Eight of them were fitted with ruminal cannulae. They were offered ad
libitum four complete diets CA, CS, FX and FS (450 g dry matter (DM) per k
g) in a 4 X 4 Latin-square design. Forage: concentrate ratio was either low
(C = 30:70) or high (F = 55:45) and starch source either rapidly (R, barle
y) or slowly (S, maize) degraded in the rumen.
Diet preferences were tested. DM intake, chewing activities and performance
were determined. Ruminal pH and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations we
re measured. Goats were also challenged intravenously with glucose (0.2 g/k
g live weight) to assess glucose homeostasis.
CX was the most preferred diet. The level of intake differed according to t
he type of starch (2.2 kg DM per day of CR and FR and 2.0 kg DM per day of
CS and FS). FS lowered ruminal pH significantly less than the other diets a
fter the meal. Ruminal NH3-N concentrations were lower in goats given CR an
d CS than FR and FS. Goats' resistance to a glucose challenge was not diffe
rent among diets. Milk yield was 2.00, 1.85, 2.01, 1.85 kg/day on CR, CS, F
R and FS respectively. Milk fat content decreased significantly with diets
rich in concentrate (24 v. 26 g/kg milk) but milk protein content varied on
ly a little.
In conclusion it appears that (1) higher forage: concentrate ratios were le
ss preferred and decreased ruminal acidity but increased daily chewing, rum
inal NH3-N and milk fat content; and (2) rapidly degraded starch increased
intake, ruminal acidity and milk yield.