The Effects of Replacing Dry Forage With Corn Silage on Milk Yield, Composition and Fatty Acids’ Profiles, Blood Metabolites, Nitrogen Balance, and Rumen Fermentation Parameters in Mahabadi Lactating Goats

The present study was performed with the aim of investigating the effects of replacing dry forage with corn silage on performance, milk yield, composition and fatty acids’ profiles, blood metabolites, nitrogen balance, and rumen fermentation parameters in Mahabadi lactating goats. For this purpose, a total of 20 lactating goats aged between 2 and 5 years old and with body weight of 45.3 ± 7.20 (DS) kg were categorized into two groups, each one containing ten goats. Experimental treatments consisted of controlling diet and dietary substitution of forage part with corn silage at 20% of dry matter. The obtained data were analyzed by the mixed model for a randomized completed design using statistical packages of SAS (2002). The replacement of dry forage with corn silage did not affect the dry matter intake (DMI), live body weight, and milk yield. Feeding corn silage, rather than dry forage, had no significant effect on milk unsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, C18:1C9 percentages, and non-esterified fatty acids concentration, and it caused a decline in milk polyunsaturated fatty acids percentage. As well, dietary inclusion of corn silage significantly decreased plasma urea nitrogen content in goats (P<0.05). Furthermore, feeding corn silage led to a significant increase in antioxidant capacity of rumen liquor (P<0.05), plasma (P<0.01), and milk (P<0.01) of lactating goats. Of note, the dietary addition of corn silage caused no significant effects on microbial nitrogen and nitrogen balance in lactating goats. Feeding corn silage did not affect the ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid at both periods before and after feeding. In general, results indicated that replacing dry forage with corn silage could consequently improve the antioxidant status in Mahabadi lactating goats.

Palm Kernel Cake in Diets for Lactating Goats: Qualitative Aspects of Milk and Cheese

We investigated the effect of including palm kernel cake (PKC) at the levels of 0, 80, 160 and 240 g kg−1 in the diet of lactating goats on the quality and sensory parameters of Minas Frescal cheese. Twelve goats were used in a triple 4 × 4 Latin square design. The dietary addition of PKC was associated with a reduction in moisture (p = 0.004), which compromised the cheese yield (p = 0.030). The ether extract content showed a quadratic response. There was a decrease in caproic (p = 0.014), caprylic (p = 0.011), capric (p = 0.003) and palmitic (p = 0.049) acids and an increase in lauric (p = 0.012) and myristic (p = 0.02) acids. Monounsaturated fatty acids increased (p = 0.008), whereas the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (p = 0.022) and thrombogenicity index (p = 0.023) decreased. Principal component analysis indicated that control treatment and the treatment with 80 g kg−1 PKC were the most acceptable to the cheese tasters. The use of palm kernel cake is a good alternative for lactating goats when added to the diet at levels up to 80 g kg−1.

Influence of season on herd size and birth rate of small-holder goats in the Southern Guinea Savanna

The study aimed to evaluate the influence of season on herd size and the birth rate of goats in Southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria. The study was carried out in Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria. A total of 54 households from 6 villages were used for the evaluation. Structured questionnaires on the socio-economic characteristics of the goat owners were administered. Data on the reproductive performance of goats were collected by visual appraisal. The data collected were on herd size, sex, number of pregnant goats, lactating goats and newly weaned kids. The result showed that more women (63.6%) were involved in goat rearing than males (36.4%), and about 91.6% of the respondents had a herd size of 1-20 goats, while only 8.4% had a herd size of 21-30. The goat herd distribution showed that the average herd size was 16.5goats, within the range of 7 to 30 goats. The herd structure was 391 females and 184 males. Three breeds of goats were identified, the West African Dwarf (WAD) goats being the dominant (397), followed by Maradi (Red Sokoto) breed (113), and the least was Pygmy breed (75). Season significantly influenced pregnancy and the number of lactating goats. There were more lactating goats during the cold-wet period and more pregnant goats during the hot-dry season. It was concluded that goat production is still at the peasant level, and goats were kept as a supplementary source of income. The conception rate was high during the cold-dry season, which was manifested in the hot-dry season. More awareness is still needed to increase the production of goats in the area. We recommend a reproduction program should be targeted during the cold-dry season where the conception rate is high.

Protease-activated receptor 2 expression in the mammary gland tissues in correlation with mastitis severity in goats

Mastitis is a common disease in small ruminant industry. The present study aimed to determine the presence of protease activated receptor-2 (PAR2) mRNA expression in the mammary gland of mastitis challenged goats. 30 clinically healthy mix breed lactating goats were divided into three groups, consisting of Staphylococcus aureus (Group 1), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (Group 2) and sterile phosphate-buffered saline (Control) groups. The data regarding physical condition of udder and clinical parameters of goats were recorded while milk samples and mammary gland tissues were collected at 24 and 48 hours post infection. Somatic cell count (SCC) was measured by direct microscopic method. The presence of PAR2 mRNA in the mammary gland tissue samples was detected by real-time PCR. Goats from group 1 developed mild to moderate clinical signs while Group 2 exhibited moderate to severe clinical signs. SCC was higher in both challenged groups than control group. PAR2 mRNA expression was detected in all mammary gland samples from Group 1 and Group 2. The gene expression was significantly highly in mammary gland tissue with severe clinical signs. The finding of PAR2 expression in caprine mammary gland is novel and important, suggesting serine proteases involved the development of mastitis in goat.

Effects of Growth Medium and Inoculum Size on Pharmacodynamics Activity of Marbofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Caprine Clinical Mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an important pathogen that causes clinical mastitis in goats and produces infections difficult to cure. Different antimicrobials as fluoroquinolones have been used against S. aureus. However, the studies developed to evaluate the bacterial drug interaction only have used the MIC as a single reference point with artificial growth media. The aims of this study were to describe the effect of marbofloxacin on S. aureus isolated from mastitis goats’ milk by different approaches as the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) in cation adjusted Mueller–Hinton broth (CAMHB), serum and milk of goats at two inoculum sizes of 105 and 108 CFU/mL, the determination and analysis of the time kill curves (TKC) by non-linear mixed effect models in each growth medium and inoculum size, as well as the estimation of their pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) cutoff values. The results obtained indicate that MIC values were higher and increases 2,4-fold in serum and 3,6-fold in milk at high inoculum, as well as the EC50 values determined by each pharmacodynamics model. Finally, the PK/PD cutoff values defined as fAUC24/MIC ratios to achieve clinical efficacy were highly dependent on inoculum and growth medium, with median values of 60–180, especially at high inoculum in milk, suggesting that further studies are necessary to evaluate and optimize the best therapeutic strategies for treating S. auerus in lactating goats.

Potential Benefits of Boswellia sacra Resin on Immunity, Metabolic Status, Udder and Uterus Health, and Milk Production in Transitioning Goats

As an attempt to prevent transition-period-associated metabolic disorders and/or diseases, the potential benefits of Boswellia sacra (Bs) resin on hematology, immunity, metabolic status, udder and uterus health biomarkers, and milk production were examined in transitioning goats. From 2 weeks prepartum to 7 weeks postpartum, goats (n = 7/treatment) orally received 0 (control, nBS), 2 (BsL), or 4 (BsH) g of Bs resin/goat/day. The results showed that both Bs treatments significantly improved the activity of phagocytes. Both Bs treatments significantly decreased the concentrations of blood plasma urea, non-esterified fatty acids, hydroxybutyric acid, and interleukin-1β, whereas they increased the total antioxidant capacity compared with the nBS treatment. Both Bs treatments significantly decreased the uterine horn diameter and tended to decrease the intrauterine fluid content, indicating improved uterine involution compared with no treatment. Compared with the nBS treatment, both Bs treatments significantly decreased the milk somatic cell count. The lowest milk interleukin-1β content was observed in goats that received the BsL treatment, followed by those that received the BsH and nBS treatments. The BsL treatment significantly increased the concentration of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in the colostrum compared with the other treatments. Both Bs treatments significantly increased the daily milk yield compared with the nBS treatment but did not affect milk composition or the fat-to-protein ratio. In conclusion, supplementing lactating goats in the transition period with Bs resin at a dose of 2 g/goat/day positively affected the body lipid metabolism, udder and uterus health, colostrum IgM content, and milk yield due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.