Abstract

This study was carried out on 23 heads of Damascus (Shami) goats to investigate the utilization of olive cake in (OC) dairy goat feeding as an alternative to cotton seed meal (CSM) at Research Farm of Mustafa Kemal University. Animals, having similar live weight and homogenity for milk yield according to the first lactation (202.2 ± 10.30 kg per lactation), were assigned into three groups. Goats in each group were fed with 1 kg of concentrate in different composition in addition to pasture per day. Each concentrate of the groups had got same ingredients in similar amount except for olive cake and cotton seed meal. At the end of the study it was determined that the replacement of olive cake to cotton seed meal decreased fat (P<0.05) and protein (P<0.01) percentage of milk without affecting milk yield (P>0.05). In conclusion, we can suggest that lactating Damascus goats could be fed with 10% OC and 10% CSM diets without any negative effects on milk composition and yield. Also usage of olive cake was recommended in goat diets because of its cost.

Key words: Shami goats, olive cake, cotton seed meal, milk production.