Milk Production and Milk Fat Components of Ettawah Grade Goats under Cool Wind Exposure

Abstract

The research aimed to study the effect of cool wind exposure on feed intake, milk production, and milk fat components of Ettawah Grade goats. It was done using eight Ettawah Grade lactating goats of 1.5–2 years old, and weighed at 34.41.76 kg. These goats were in the third month of lactation with average milk production of 262.7+19.82 g/day. Feed given consisted of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Glyricidae and concentrates (mixed of wheat bran and rice bran). Concentrate feeding was given twice a day at 07.00 and 15.00, while Napier grass and Glyricidae was given ad libitum two hours after concentrate. This research followed Cross-over Design with 2 periods and 2 treatments, i.e. first non cool wind exposure (PEnor) and second, cool wind exposure (PEjuk). Results of the research showed that dry matter intake between PEnor and PEjuk were similar (P>0.05), being 1116 and 1117 g/day, respectively. The similar results were observed for intake of protein, fat, fiber as well as NFE. These similar intakes were pointed to the small difference in ambient temperature (only 1 oC) between PEnor and PEjuk. That conditions lead to the no difference between PEnor and PEjuk in milk production (195 vs 189 g/d) and milk fat components, such as millk fat (6.51 vs 6.64%), cholesterol (11.72 vs 11.85%), mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (31.32 vs 31.90%) and the range of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (0.07-2.92 vs 0.05-2.59%). The conclusion that could be drawn from this research was mild cold exposure failed to improve feed intake and milk production due to small different of ambient temperature. Keywords : cool exposure, milk production, milk composition, Ettawah grade goat