Clay as a natural feed additive in goat diets

摘要

Theconsumptionofclaybylivestockoftencalledbythetermgeophagyisanaturalphenomenon;theyactuallyconsumesomeclayduringthepastureorbynibbleseedsandinsectsinthesoilfauna.Inrecentyears,theuseofclaysasanaturalalternativetotheantibioticsgrowthpromotersinpoultryandpigwasaccompaniedbyasignificantimprovementsindigestiveefficiency,growthperformanceandthewelfare.However,inruminants,therewasaninsufficientscientificreview.nbsp;Theaimofthisstudyistoprovideadditionalinformationabouttheresponsesofsucklinggoattotheclayaddition.Forthispurpose,duringthelastmonthofpregnancyand7weeksafterparturition,theeffectsof5%ofmarl(aclayenrichedwithcalciumsalts)onthedrymattervoluntarilyintake,thebirthweightandthegrowthrateofkidsandmilkproductionwerestudiedintwogroupsofmultiparouslocalgoats.Thesegoatswerefedonabaseddietofoathayandalfalfa,distributedadlibitumandsupplementedwithaconcentratecontaining5%ofmarl(experimental)orwithoutmarl(control).Resultsofthistrialshowedthatthemarlsignificantlyimprovesbirthweightandespeciallythesinglebirths(9.5%,P=0.02),theweightgain(+49%,P0.001)andtheproteincontentofmilk(+15%,P=0.04).Theseperformancesseemtobepartiallyexplainedbytheincreaseofthedrymattervoluntarilyintakeduringthelastmonthofpregnancy(+5%)andbythemilkproteinsrichness.TheresponseobservedinthisexperimentshowstheimportanceoftheuseofmarltoimprovefoodproductionandtherearingofgoatsinAlgeria.