Factors affecting feed efficiency in dairy goats

The objective of this study was to present some factors affecting feed efficiency in dairy goats. To develop our work, individual and average data from performance experiments with lactating goats were used. The following variables were evaluated: gross feed efficiency, adjusted feed efficiency, dry matter intake, milk-yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield, dry matter digestibility, dietary neutral detergent fiber content, different roughage-to-concentrate ratios and body weight. The statistical analyses involved the application of descriptive and dispersion measures besides Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. The analyzed variables were highly correlated with feed efficiency. The feed efficiency of lactating goats was affected by the milk fat correction, dry matter digestibility, dietary fiber content, proportion of roughage in the diet and body weight. Among these factors, standardization of the milk fat appeared to be the most efficient in correcting the feed efficiency in lactating goats. Correction of some of these factors implies greater precision in the measurement of feed efficiency.

本研究旨在阐明影响奶山羊（dairy goats）饲料利用效率（feed efficiency）的相关因素。为开展本研究，我们采用了泌乳奶山羊（lactating goats）生产性能试验的个体数据与平均数据集。本次研究评估的变量涵盖：总饲料利用效率（gross feed efficiency）、校正饲料利用效率（adjusted feed efficiency）、干物质采食量（dry matter intake）、产奶量（milk-yield）、3.5%乳脂校正产奶量（3.5% fat-corrected milk yield）、干物质消化率（dry matter digestibility）、日粮中性洗涤纤维含量（dietary neutral detergent fiber content）、不同粗精比（roughage-to-concentrate ratios）以及体重（body weight）。统计分析环节，除应用皮尔逊相关系数（Pearson's correlation coefficient）与线性回归分析（linear regression analysis）外，还运用了描述性统计与离散趋势指标。结果表明，所评估的全部变量均与饲料利用效率存在显著相关性。泌乳奶山羊的饲料利用效率受乳脂校正、干物质消化率、日粮纤维含量、日粮粗饲料占比以及体重的影响。其中，乳脂标准化似乎是校正泌乳奶山羊饲料利用效率的最优手段。对部分上述因素进行校正，可有效提升饲料利用效率测定的精准性。