The effect of calcium and phosphorus supplementation on the composition of milk and blood of lactating dwarf goats

Abstract

This experiment involved 12 West Africa goats aged 20 to 24 months and weighing 21 to 23kg. They were fed a basal diet of grass hay (Cynodon nlemfuensis) and randomly allotted to one of three isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate diets. Concentrate contained Ca 0.42% and P 0.28% (A), Ca 0.81% and P 0.55% (B) and Ca 1.21% and P O.81(C). The experiment lasted 12) weeks of lactation. Results show that dry matter intake (DMI) was between 4.2 and 4.5% of body weight (BW). Treatment effect on blood glucose (BG) and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) was not significant. Effects of week and time of blood collection were highly significant (P<0.01). Mean value (%of butterfat) of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) of colostrum and mature milk was 9.1 and 7.87 respectively .Ratio of PUFA to saturated fatty acid (SFA) was 0.16 for colostrum and 0.15 for mature milk. Treatment difference did not significantly affect fatty acid and milk composition. With the exception of lactose, all other milk analyses were higher in colostrum than mature milk, cholesterol and fatty acids contents were comparable to those reported in milk of temperate breed of goats. 

   Keywords:   Fatty acids, blood glucose, plasma urea nitrogen, lactation, goats, milk composition.