Performance and eating behaviour of crossbred goats in Mediterranean climate of Turkey


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KOLUMAN N., BOGA M., SILANIKOVE N., Gorgulu M.

REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ZOOTECNIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, vol.45, no.12, pp.768-772, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 45 Issue: 12
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1590/s1806-92902016001200006
  • Journal Name: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ZOOTECNIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.768-772
  • Keywords: German Fawn, goat, Saanen, milk yield, FEEDING-BEHAVIOR, HEAT-STRESS, PYGMY GOATS, DAIRY GOATS, MILK-YIELD, ADAPTATION, RUMINANTS, DRINKING, CHOICE, BOUTS
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate milk yield and eating behaviour of crossbred goats, German Improved Fawn x Hair crossbred (GIF) and Saanen x Hair goats (S), in subtropical eastern Mediterranean climate of Turkey during early summer season. Eight GIF and eight S goats were individually housed in 1.5 x 1.5 m pens. Diurnal eating patterns were monitored by a system that recorded meal size and meal length. Milk yield (kg/day) was 1.77 in GIF and 2.0 in S goats, whereas milk production efficiency (kg feed/kg milk) was 1.15 in GIF and 1.07 in S goats. The differences between GIF and S goats in eating behaviour parameters were significant: the S goats had higher meal size and meal length and longer inter-meal interval, meal time, and eating rate within in each meal, but lower number of meals in comparison with GIF goats. German Improved Fawn x Hair crossbred and Saanen x Hair goats have similar lactation performance under good nutritional condition, but their eating behaviours are quite different.