Effect of Original formula feed Feeding Levels and Environmental Temperature on Milk Production in Goats

Abstract

This research was conducted to clarify the effectiveness of an increased supply of original formula feed in reducing decreases in milk performance in lactating goats in a hot environment. Ten animals were divided into two groups (dry forage freely feeding (DFG), original formula feed freely feeding (CFG)). All the animals were kept in the first thermoneutral environment (FTE: 20.0˚C, relative humidity 80.0%) for 12 days, then transitioned to a hot environment (HE: 32.0˚C, 80.0%) for 13 days before being returned to the second thermoneutral environment (STE) for 12 days. In the HE, the TDN and DCP intake of CFG were higher than DFG. While the milk yield of DFG in the HE significantly decreased compared to the TE, the milk yield of CFG remained unaffected by heat stress. The concentration and yields of milk components of both groups in the HE was significantly lower than those in the TE. However, in the HE, milk component yields of CFG were significantly larger than DFG. These results indicate that the increased original formula feed feeding was not only effective in reducing decreases in milk yield in lactating goats in a HE, but was also effective in reducing decreases in milk component yields.