Energy of Milk of West African Dwarf, Red Sokoto, and Saanen Goats at Stages of Lactation

Abstract

Digestible and metabolizable energy of milk from West African dwarf, Red Sokoto (Maradi), and imported Saanen goats at different stages of lactation was measured. Energy increased from early to mid-lactation and then declined except for metabolizable energy of Saanen goat milk which maintained a steady increase although the trends were not significant. Average digestible energies in mega-joule/kg of freeze-dried milk were 23.4 ± .91 (standard deviation); 21.4 ± .55, and 19.9 ± .34 for the West African dwarf, Red Sokoto, and Saanen goats. Corresponding metabolizable energies were 21.2 ± .70, 18.7 ± .46, and 18.5 ± .48. © 1982, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.