Supplementing the Diet of Dairy Goats with Dried Orange Pulp throughout Lactation: I. Effect on Milk Performance, Nutrient Utilisation, Blood Parameters and Production Economics

Abstract

Dried orange pulp (DOP) can be incorporated into ruminant diets, but no reports have considered this strategy during the entire lactation period in goats. Two experiments were performed using lactating Payoya goats. In experiment 1, to study the effect, over 180 days, of DOP on milk yield and composition, blood metabolites and economic values, 44 primiparous goats were allocated into three groups: control diet (concentrate plus lucerne) and DOP40 and DOP80 diets, in which DOP replaced 40% and 80%, respectively, of the cereals. Nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation were also studied (experiment 2). The DOP diets did not affect milk yield and composition. DOP triggered lower intake and digestibility of ether extract and crude protein. Ruminal fermentation was unaffected by DOP, except for a decrease in butyrate for DOP80. The energy balance was unaltered by diet while the balance and retention of nitrogen decreased. Regarding plasma biochemistry, DOP supplementation caused changes that could indicate an improvement in hepatic function and reduced muscular damage and oxidative muscular stress. Moreover, DOP80 provided a profit increase of EUR 3.27/goat. In conclusion, the partial replacement of cereals by DOP is a profitable and healthy nutritional strategy in dairy goats and is suitable for the entire lactation period without compromising productivity.

Feeding Dairy Goats Dehydrated Orange Pulp Improves Cheese Antioxidant Content

“…The chemical characteristics of the milk samples taken from individual animals at the same time as the bulk milk collection for cheese manufacture are presented in Table 2. As previous studies in early lactation [8] and above the entire lactation period [2,9], the diets did not affect (p > 0.05) any proximal chemical parameters; however, the antioxidant parameters, except for retinol, were significantly affected by the diets. The α-tocopherol, TPC, and TAC contents were higher for the DOP80 diet than for the CD diet, while the DOP40 diet presented an intermediate value (p < 0.001).…”

“…In addition, representative milk samples (50 mL aliquots from each animal) were taken during machine milking (n = 6 for each diet group were randomly selected) for analysis. For more details on milking procedure and milk quality controls, see also Delgado-Pertíñez et al [9]. The samples were frozen at −20 • C, or at −80 • C in the case of the samples for vitamins, until analysis was performed.…”

“…Few papers have investigated the replacement of cereals with DOP in goats on the milk yield and fatty acid (FA) and antioxidant properties [6,7], and no reports are available in cheeses. Recently, the effect of the partial replacement of cereals by DOP pellets (40% and 80% replacement) in the feed of lactating goats has been investigated, primarily on production and the growth of the kids [8,9] and secondarily on the quality of the milk [2,8]. The DOP by-product could replace up to 80% of the cereals in diets without detrimental effects on milk production during a complete lactation and the growth of the lactating kids.…”

Sustainable utilization of unsaleable walnut kernel in substitution for corn grain in the diet of fattening lambs improves growth performance and meat quality

“…By-products from agriculture are potential alternatives which are considered for several reasons: low-cost and reducing feeding costs, eliminate environmental pollution, and reducing the costs derived from their management and disposal (Guzmán et al 2021). Furthermore, agro-industrial by-products may be of interest as functional feedstuffs due to the contents of bioactive phytochemicals such as unsaturated FAs, tocopherols, carotenes, sterols, terpenes, polyphenols and others (Kalogeropoulos et al 2012).…”

Evaluation of a combination of Citrus aurantium var. Dulcis essential oil and albendazole for the treatment of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes

“…Citrus fruits are highly consumed worldwide (Rafiq et al, 2018), with production estimated at 1.4 million tons for 2021/22 (USDA, 2020). This high consumption generates byproducts that are used for animal nutrition and essential oil (EO) production (Guzmán et al, 2021;Luciano et al, 2017). The dehydrated citrus pulp and orange EO have been used in ruminant animal nutrition.…”