Supplementation of mixed roughage-based diet with rumen protected methionine for lactating goats

Abstract

Twenty goats of White Improved breed were divided by analogue method into four groups and fed a basal diet consisting of different roughages (maize silage, sugar beets and meadow hay) and a concentrate containing soyabean and rapeseed meals. Animals from individual groups were supplemented with 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 g/d of rumen protected methionine (Smartamine™ M).No significant differences in milk yield and composition were observed. However, a trend in the daily milk and fat yields as well as in milk protein content and yields were found in goats with the increase of rumen protected methionine up to 3 g/d. The amino acid composition of milk protein did not differ significantly among groups.