EFFECT OF FEEDING OAK (Quercus aegilops) ACORNS ON MILK PRODUCTION, MILK COMPOSITION AND SOME BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF BLACK GOATS

Abstract

 Twenty four Black goat does at 1^st week post kidding were adapted to control diet for 2 weeks and then blocked into 4 groups (6 does/group) to be fed on one of the experimental diets (0, 5, 10 and 15% oak acorns) to study the effect of different levels of oak acorns on milk yield, milk composition and some serum biochemical traits. Results revealed that at 10^th week of lactation, there was a significant increase in daily milk yield in does fed on 15% oak acorns. In contrast the group fed on 15% oak acorns exhibited a significant decrease in milk protein and solid non-fat contents at 10^th week of lactation. The milk lactose yield was significantly higher in group fed on 15% oak acorns at 10^th week of lactation. The serum glucose concentration at 8^th week of lactation was significantly higher in does fed on 10% oak acorns while at 10^th week; it was significantly higher in does fed 5% oak acorns. It could be concluded that feeding does on diets containing 15% oak acorns caused a significant increase in daily milk yield of Black goats and a significant decrease in milk protein content.