Abstract :
The objectives of this work were to study and compare the effect of vetch hay supplementation on milk yield of indigenous
Begait and Abergelle goats, managed under semi-extensive conditions in the lowlands of northern Ethiopia, and to compare milk
yield and composition of the two breeds.
Eleven 7–8-month-old goats from each breed were randomly assigned to each of the four levels of vetch hay supplementation
at 0% BW (Treatment 1), 0.5% BW (Treatment 2), 1.0% BW (Treatment 3) and 1.5% BW (Treatment 4). Goats were grazed
during daytime and milked in the evening only. Kids were allowed to suck their dams during the night up to 90 days and
then weaned. Milk yield and lactation length increased gradually and almost linearly by increasing level of supplementation,
while fat percentage and total solids percentage declined. Differences (P < 0.05) in average daily milk yield were found between
Treatments 1 and 4 for both goat breeds in both years. Milk yieldwas significantly higher, but fat and SNF contents were lower for
Begait than for Abergelle goats. When calculated as energy corrected milk (ECM)/kg metabolic BW, no breed differences were
found. There were no significant differences for calcium and phosphorus contents in milk between the breeds. It is concluded
that vetch hay supplementation increased milk yield by up to 50%, but decreased percent fat and total solids in the milk of both
Begait and Abergelle goats.
© 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords :
Goats , Begait , Abergelle , milk , Vetch hay
