Use of total mixed ration as supplement in grazing local goats: Milk production response and chemical composition

In Mexico, the goat population is concentrated in extensive production systems in Mexico, with herds mainly formed by goats that the producers called Creoles , now accepted as a local name. The power of the goat dairy in the extensive production system, is through the grazing, but this alone cannot meet the nutritional needs of the goat. Therefore, if the producers want to increase the production of milk, it is necessary to supplement the grazing goat diet with grains. On this manner, some results report an increase in milk production in grazing ruminants supplemented with an integral diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on the production and composition of milk in grazing local goats supplemented with an integral feed. Two experiments were performed. The first, evaluated the effect of changing from a grazing system to intensive system, in order to challenge the goats to express their productive potential by providing them with an integral feed. In the second, it evaluated the effect in grazing local goat milk reproduction and composition, evaluating them with different levels of supplements used in experiment one. Data from milk production and chemical composition in milk of both experiments were analyzed using a repeated measure model. The information of body weight and body condition of the goats, were analyzed as a completely randomized design. An analysis of partial cost was realized in both experiments, in order to know the economic viability of the treatments. In experiment one, the concentration of fat in milk did not changed (p > 0.05) by effect of treatment, however, it did increase milk production (p ≤ 0.01) and concentration of protein and lactose (p ≤ 0.05) in intensive goats compared with grazing goats. In experiment two, the grain supplementation in grazing local goats with two levels (500 g d -1 and 1000 g d -1 ) did not change the concentration of fat in milk (p > 0.05), but increased body condition of goats and milk production (p ≤ 0.01) and protein and lactose (p ≤ 0.05) in comparison to local grazing goats. Thus, partial costs analysis indicated that the supplementation of grazing goats is not economically viable. For future references, further research is recommended under low-cost food and negotiation to improve prices for quality of milk.