Effects of feeding empty fruit bunch extract on milk production and milk fatty acid profiles in goats

The effect of feeding empty fruit bunch extract on milk production and milk fatty acid profiles of lactating Saanen goats was evaluated. A total of four lactating Saanen goats (14 days in milk, 54.3 ± 9 kg of body weight) were subjected to a crossover design with a 17-d period (10-day adaptation period and 7-day for data and sampling period) with a 12-day washout period in between both periods. The treatment diets were; CON; (0% extract, basal diet of 60:40 of napier grass and concentrate) and EFB (5% OPEFB extract per DM basal diet). The 5% EFB extract in EFB diet did not affects milk yield, milk fat, milk total solid and milk solid non-fat compared to the CON diet. The milk protein content was significantly higher in EFB diet (P < 0.05) while milk lactose content was significantly higher in CON diet (P < 0.001) when compared to the others. Milk from EFB diet shows significantly higher (P < 0.05) in capric, lauric, myristic acid, and total SFA concentration as compared with milk from CON diet. Goat fed with EFB diet significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in stearic, oleic, total UFA, total MUFA concentration and UFA: SFA ratio in milk when compared with goat fed with CON diet. Meanwhile, the content of myristoleic acid, linoleic acid and PUFA: SFA ratio was similar between both treatment diets. Hence, the supplementation of 5% OPEFB extract in EFB diet did not alter milk production but the composition of the milk especially the profiles of milk fatty acid.