Effect of dietary incorporation of cotton seed cake (Gossypium Sp.) on milk production, constituents, fatty acid profile, somatic cell counts and reproductive hormones in late lactating Barbari goats Kumar Ravindra*, Verma Arun K, Tripathi P., Gupta D.L. Division of Animal Nutrition Management and PT, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom Farah, Mathura-281122, India *Corresponding author: ravindra.srivastava@gmail.com, ravindra.kumar@icar.gov.in
Online Published on 24 May, 2024. Abstract Feeding cum lactation trial was conducted to study the effect of inclusion of cotton seed cake (CSC) on milk production, constituents, fatty acid profile, somatic cell counts, hematology and reproductive hormones in Barbari goats. Eighteen female Barbari goats (age approx. 3-5 years and mean body weight 36.35±1.33 kg) were divided into three groups (Gr I, Gr II and Gr III) of six each as per completely randomised design (CRD). All the animals were fed with concentrate pellet and gram straw to meet their nutrient requirement. Control group (Gr I) was fed with concentrate pellet having 25 % linseed cake while Gr II and Gr III were fed with concentrate pellet in which linseed cake was replaced with cotton seed cake at 50 and 100% level. Milk production (g/ day) and total solids (%), protein (%) and ash (%) were statistically similar in all three groups of lactating goats at 30 and 60 days of experimental feeding. Milk production (g/day) was 561.50, 545.00 and 525.80 in Gr I, Gr II and Gr III respectively. Incorporation of CSC in the ration tended to provide higher mono unsaturated fatty acids. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in blood cell counts and biochemical parameters viz., glucose, total protein, albumin urea, and ALT and AST activities among different groups. The concentration of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (IU/L), progesterone and estradiol were within normal range and similar among the groups. Present study concluded that cotton seed cake can be incorporated at 25% level in the concentrate mixture of lactating goats without any adverse effect on milk production, constituents and reproductive hormones. Top Keywords Cotton seed cake, Lactating goats, Milk fatty acids, Reproductive hormones. Top |