Calcium Propionate and Feather Meal as Glucogenic Precursors in Lactating Saanen Goats

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of propionate and feather meal on milk production and milk chemical composition in goats in mid-lactation. Eighteen Saanen goats with an average body weight of 54.8±7.1 kg were were randomly assigned to three treatments having 6 animals each. Goats in the CON group
received the control diet plus 40 mL of sugarcane molasses but no glycogenic precursors. Goats in the CAPS group received the control diet plus 15 g of salts of calcium propionate dissolved in 40 mL of sugarcane molasses per goat daily while goats in the FEME group received the control diet plus 106 g of feather meal dissolved in 40 mL of sugarcane molasses. Milk production was higher (P<0.01) in goats supplemented with salts of calcium propionate or feather meal compared to those in the control group. Supplemented goats
showed higher blood glucose concentration than those in the CON. The results suggested that use of glucose precursors increased the production of milk in goats.