Influence of using folic acid on lactating zaraibi goats performance

Abstract: Forty female Zaraibi goats (during the last month of pregnancy) in the 3rd and 4th seasons of lactation were used to study the effect of folic acid on milk production, some rumen and blood parameters and changes of live body weight of Zaraib does. Forty does were divided randomly into four equal groups (10 females each). Animals in groups G1, G2 and G3 received 0, 2 and 6 mg folic acid/kg body weight (BW) daily, respectively in their diets. But, G4 received one intravenous injection of 4 ml saline solution containing 40 mg folic acid, weekly. Feeding allowances of Zaraibi does were calculate according to NRC (1981).
The obtained results showed that using folic in Zaraibi does rations improved milk yield by 8.8, 11.6 and 22.1 % for G2, G3 and G4, respectively compared with the control (G1), and the improvement was significant with G4. However, milk composition was not significantly affected by folic acid. The results of rumen parameters of Zaraibi goats showed that. pH value, ammonia-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA's) were not significantly differed among the groups. Moreover, no remarkable effects of folic acid were observed on hemato-biochemical parameters. Feed utilization efficiency, based on DM, was better with 84 then followed by G3 and G2 compared with the control ration (G1).
Accordingly, it could be concluded that using folic acid had positive role on improving milk yield for lactating Zaraibi goats without any adverse effect on milk composition as well as rumen and blood parameters. It improved also feed utilization.
Keywords: Zaraibi goats- folic acid-performance-milk yield-milk composition- feed utilization.
Publication year 2001
Pages 6745-6757
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City المنصورة
serial title Journal of Agric. Science Mansoura University
ISSN 1110-0346
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    احلام عبد الحليم الشيوى المركز القومى للبحوث
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS
Feed conversion efficiency. Folic acid. Milk yield. Performance testing.
Proposed Agrovoc milk composition;Zaraibi goats;blood parameters;live weight;
Publication Type Journal