Effect of dietary incremental levels of flaxseed supplementation on productive performance of lactating Damascus goats

Abstract

It is believable that supplemental essential fatty acids can change the fatty Acid (FA) composition in the milk. Feeding flaxseed to dairy animals improves milk production and milk quality, resulting in healthier milk for consumer. So, the objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of ascending levels of flaxseed in Damascus goat's ration on performance and milk composition. Twenty-four of lactating Damascus goats (39.60 ±0.50 kg weight and 2-3 years old) were divided into three groups (randomly, eight animals each). The basic diet of control group (T1) consisted of 56.67% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and 33.33% alfalfa hay and supplemented with 10% full fat soya, while the other groups were supplemented with 5% flaxseed + 5% full fat soya (T2) and 10% flaxseed (T3), respectively. Inclusion of higher level of flaxseed (10%) in goat’s ration increases dry matter intake (DMI) with the positive effect on digestibility of most nutrients. In addition, rumen fermentation was affected with increased fat supply where levels of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA’s) and ammonia-N (NH3-N) are increased with reduced rumen pH values in animals fed on T3. In this study, significant increase of blood plasma total protein, globulin, albumin, urea and high-density lipoprotein concentration, whereas significant decrease of triglycerides, cholesterol and Low-density lipoprotein concentration in response to higher supplemental fat than T1 and T2. Goats supplemented with higher level of flaxseed recorded higher body weight, milk yield and fat corrected milk (FCM) yield, milk fat, protein and total solid content than the other groups (T1 and T2). In conclusion, higher flaxseed supply in dairy Damascus goat's diets resulted in improved total tract digestibility, feed efficiency and rumen fermentation parameters and milk production, milk composition while reduced blood lipids.