Milk yield and quality traits in different lactation stages of Damascus goats: Concentrate and pasture based feeding systems

Abstract

This study aimed to survey milk yield, lactation stages and milk quality traits of Damascus goats reared under different feeding systems. Goats were divided according to feeding systems as pasture based and concentrate based. Feeding systems were found to have significant effect on lactation milk yield but not on lactation duration. Although differences between feeding systems were not found significant on pH, milk composition factors (fat, lactose, dry matter), somatic cell count and malondialdehyde (except for early lactation stage) for each lactation stage, significant effects were detected on same parameters among lactation stages. Calcium levels at early lactation stage in milk differed either between feeding systems or among lactation stages. Also, other minerals were found to decrease with lactation. While most of the fatty acids were affected in any of the lactation stages by the feeding system, all of them were significantly altered by lactation stages. Pastured goats had a lower percentage of total saturated fatty acids, atherogenic index, thrombogenic index and odour index ratios. In accordance with milk fatty acid composition, compared to the milk obtained from goats fed with concentrate, the milk obtained from the goats that pastured was healthier and early lactation stage was found to produce healthier milk than late lactation stage.