Research Information System
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND FEED SCIENCES, vol.13, no.3, pp.417-428, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
The present study was designed to: 1. test whether lactating goats could select a nutritionally adequate diet when offered an unrestricted choice among feed ingredients, 2. asses whether the goats change their diet preferences according to the source of grain and, 3. determine whether the choice feeding compared with a TMR would alter the lactating performance and also milk composition of German Fawn x Hair crossbred goats during mid lactation. A total 36 goats was allocated to 4 experimental groups with three replicates, comprising three goats each for a 9-week-period, including one week training period for choice-fed goats. The treatment groups were: 1. ad libitum total mixed ration with barley (BTMR; containing 40% lucerne hay and 60% concentrate consisted of ground barley, soyabean meal and wheat bran); 2. choice feeding (BCF) among the feed ingredients of the BTMR; 3. ad libitum total mixed ration with maize grain (MTMR; containing 40% lucerne hay and 60% concentrate consisted of ground maize, soyabean meal and wheat bran); 4. choice feeding (MCF) among the feed ingredients of the MTMR.