Journal of Applied Animal Research
  • Year: 2009
  • Volume: 36
  • Issue: 1

Influence of Betaine on Milk Yield and Fatty Acid Composition in Lactating Dairy Goats

  • Author:
  • C. Fernándeza,, L.M. Rodríguez-Alcaláb, E. Abilleirab, J.M. de la Fuentec, J. Fontechab
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Page Number: 89 to 92

aDepartamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.

bInstituto del Frío, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.

cDanisco Animal Nutrition, Madrid, Spain.

* Corresponding author: Email: cjfernandez@dca.upv.es

Abstract

Two groups of 30 goats were selected to determine the effects of added betaine (4 g/kg) on diets of Murciano-Granadina dairy goat. After an experimental period of 3 months no significant differences between groups were observed for milk yield, chemical composition and somatic cells count in milk. Feeding betaine supplemented diets increased relatively the proportions of short chain fatty acids (C6:0 to C10:0) and significantly (P<0.05) increased the proportions of medium chain fatty acids (C12:0 to C15:0) in milk fat. Thus betaine feeding maybe considered beneficial for producing milk good for human health.

Keywords

Betaine, goat milk, fatty acid