Evaluating Corn Silage as Supplement: Its Effect on The Performance, Milk Production and Milk Composition in Local Goat

• Mr. Samir Sadun Sartip 1* Prof. Dr. Dler Ali Othman Al-Sherwany1 Asst. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Fathi Yuonis

  Author

The effect of corn silage supplementation on performance, milk production, milk composition and carcass characteristics of local lactating goat in Kurdistan region of Iraq was evaluated. Twenty lactating goats with a five -day-old kid was divided into four treatment groups: one group was fed concentrate and straw, while the other 3 groups fed to the goats were given 800 g/head/day (T1), 1600 g/head/day (T2) and 2400 g/head/day (T3) of corn silage for a period of 75 days. There was a significant increase in average milk yield, percentage of milk fat and lactose, total weight gain and carcass size and grade with increased consumption of corn silage. The highest level of inclusion (T3), however, had hinger feed conversion ratio, which shows reduced biological efficiency. The control group had the highest percentage of milk protein, which would seem to indicate a dilution effect. T3 achieved greatest production responses, whereas T2 achieved greater milk production responses with no significant difference in feed efficiency. Milk composition was stable during the experiment, indicating that corn silage can be successfully used in dairy goat. Overall, moderate supplementation with corn silage (T2) is the most efficient and feasible for farmers who have a small number of animals in resource-constrained areas.