Quality and sensory milk traits of goats grazing Caatinga or confined receiving either corn or spineless cactus-based diets in the Brazilian semiarid environment

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production 2023-10, Vol.55 (5), p.284-284, Article 284
• Main Authors: Fernandes, Beatriz Dantas Oliveira, Alves, Susana Paula Almeida, de Cássia Ramos do Egypto Queiroga, Rita, de Andrade, Alberício Pereira, da Silva, Divan Soares, de Souza, Luana Magna, Souza, Anaiane Pereira, Bessa, Rui José Branquinho, de Medeiros, Ariosvaldo Nunes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceptability; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Body weight; Chemical properties; Corn; Dairy Science and Health in the Tropics; Diet; Fatty acids; Feed additives; Goat's milk; Goats; Grazing; Life Sciences; Milk; Pasture; Regular Articles; Semi arid areas; Semi arid environments; Semiarid environments; Semiarid lands; Sensory evaluation; Sensory properties; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03698-x

This study aimed to evaluate the yield, physical–chemical properties, fatty acid (FA) profile, and sensory traits of goat milk under different nutritional strategies in a Brazilian semiarid environment. Eighteen lactating crossbred dairy goats were distributed in a completely randomized design with three nutritional strategies: Caatinga strategy (1.5% of body weight with a concentrate supplementation), Corn-based confined strategy, and Spineless Cactus confined strategy. Daily milk yield was recorded, and milk samples were collected from all animals. Goats fed the spineless cactus-based diet presented a higher milk yield than goats feed the other strategies. Moreover, milk from goats fed with a spineless Cactus confined strategy presented higher saturated FA (SFA), and a lower proportion of cis- monounsaturated FA, trans-monounsaturated FA, and c9,t11-18:2 than milk from goats feed the other strategies. Milk from goats in the pasture system presented the highest proportions of 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, and thus of polyunsaturated FA, when compared with milk from confined goats. We assume that milk from goats grazing in Caatinga pastures presents more benefits to human health due to the positive effects of this diet on the milk’s fat content and FA profile, and this feeding strategy also results in a better sensory evaluation that may increase the acceptability of goat milk by consumers. All nutritional strategies evaluated herein and adopted in the semiarid region of Brazil are recommended for maintaining the yield, physical–chemical properties, and acceptability of milk goats.