Inclusion of Barley Fodder in Alfalfa/Grass-Based Diets on Milk Production in Goats and Milking Sheep

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect Barley Sprout Fodder (BSF) on milk production and composition Saanen goats Friesian ewes. Twenty does (1-year-old) twenty East ewes (1 5 years old), were selected for experiment, where each species divided into four treatment groups. Goat treatments consisted 0 (CRTL), 758 (BSF1), 1498 (BSF2) 2270 (BSF3) g wet BSF/d added an alfalfa/grass hay mix provided in random order. Sheep similar, but 0, 454, 908, 1362 BSF/d. dry matter content fodder 10.7%. A grain fed (798 DM g/d) sheep (400 during morning evening milking. Treatment periods fifteen days. Feed consumed measured yield samples collected days 13 14. Milk analyzed fat, protein, lactose. cheese made from day 14 fatty acid composition. Total intake between 2.7 2.9 kg/d different (P<0.05) BSF treatments, 2.6 3.0 not affected by treatment. averaged 2681 g/d across while 1021 g/d. fat increased numerically 77 82 50 58 sheep. did affect goat protein g/d, 46 53 lactose changed with inclusion, 47 54 solids diet increasing 143 164 There no differences either species. CRTL cost $0.82/day $0.72/d sheep, high level inclusion $1.06/d $0.91/d Based parameters study, had relatively improve milk, increase yield.