Milk Production by Dairy Goats

Abstract

Goats are widespread throughout the world and provide hides, fibre, meat and m::k. In the UK, goats have been kept mainly in very small herds by hobby farmers, but commercial milk production has assumed increasing importance and has highlighted the need for sound nutritlonoi advice. Research is now providing an improved basis for feeding goats and results suggest that the nutrition of dairy goats is very similar to that of dairy cows.

Pour‐on administration of eprinomectin to lactating dairy goats: Pharmacokinetics and anthelmintic efficacy

“…Dupuy et al (2001) and later Lespine et al (2012) hypothesized that the reason for the marked difference in non‐lactating dairy goats (Alvinerie et al, 1999) vs. lactating dairy goats (Dupuy et al, 2001) is low body fat reserves in the latter and associated “easier release” of eprinomectin from the reduced body fat tissue due to faster turnover of fat in these animals. In dairy goats, major physiological changes with body weight loss corresponding to mobilization of fat tissue occur in the first two months of lactation (Morand‐Fehr et al, 1987; Sutton & Mowlem, 1991). Unfortunately, the hypothesis of the impact of the factor body fat was not supported otherwise and no information on lactation stage or milk yield of the goats was provided which also hampers the comparison with the results of this study.…”