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.

本研究旨在阐述影响奶山羊饲料利用效率的相关因素。为开展本研究，本研究采用了泌乳山羊性能试验的个体数据与平均数据。本研究评估了以下变量：总饲料利用效率、校正饲料利用效率、干物质采食量、产奶量、3.5%乳脂校正产奶量、干物质消化率、日粮中性洗涤纤维含量、不同粗精比以及体重。本研究采用的统计分析方法包括描述性与离散趋势统计量，以及皮尔逊相关系数与线性回归分析。经分析的各变量均与饲料利用效率存在显著相关性。泌乳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。在上述影响因素中，乳脂标准化似乎是校正泌乳山羊饲料利用效率的最有效手段。对部分此类因素进行校正，可提升饲料利用效率测定的精准度。