Effect of Varying Levels of Dietary Energy on Feed Utilization and Milk Production in Beetal Goats

Eighteen lactating Beetal goats in their early stage of lactation were randomly distributed into three groups. These animals were fed on a ration providing same level of protein but 3 different levels of energy for a period ol 40 d at the end of which a metabolic trial of 7 d collection was conducted. The daily intake of DM, DCP and TDN were, respectively, 110.07±4.40, 7.31±0.19 and 88.08±1.63 g/day in group T₁; 94.41±4.28,7.43±0.38 and 74.15±2.76 g/day in group T₂; and 77.43±5.25,7.24±0.25 and 61.35±1.25 g/day in group T₃. The intake of DM and TDN among the 3 groups differed significantly (P<0.01). There was a significant difference in the digestibility of cellulose (P<0.05), EE (P<0.01) and CP (P<0.05) highest being in group T₁ where highest level ol energy was fed. The data on other nutrients i.e. DM NDF and ADF depicted a non-significant increase over other groups. The yield of milk fat TS and SNF too depicted a significantly higher level in group with higher levels of energy. The yield of milk fat TS SNF and protein being 772.50±61.44 27.03±1.69 104.90±8.95 77.54±7.14 27.36±1.98 g/day in group T₁; 535.0±73.64 21.53±2.36 75.54±9.02 52.58±6.86 19.02±2.64 g/day in croup T₂ and 393 33±32 41 16.85±1 55 54 24±4 47 31 39±3 05 and 12 68±1 02 g/dav in group T₃, respectively Milk production per unit of nutrient was highest in group T₁ followed by T₂ & T₃ Hence it has been concluded that on feeding goats at higher Diane of energy the efficiency of feed utilization and production of milk increased.