Influence of Feeding Baobab Seed Cake on Milk Production and Quality of Desert Goats

The study was conducted in Al-Newala Village south ELObied town, Sheikan locality in North Kordofan state, Sudan. The milk production and composition of desert goats fed varying levels of baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed cake supplement was investigated over a period of 135 days. Twenty-four (24) adults pregnant does of Desert goats were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with six animals per replicate in a completely randomized design to determine the quantity and quality of milk produced. The does were of similar initial body weight. They were randomly assigned to four supplementary feeding treatments. Group A was used as a control (un supplement as in farmer practice), the second group B was supplement with diet of 65% baobab seed cake, group C with diet of 55% baobab seed cake and group D was supplemented of 45% baobab seed cake. All does in all groups were subjected to natural grazing. The results indicated that supplementation with baobab seed cake had a highly significantly (P<0.05) effected milk production on 90 days, total milk production and daily milk yield. The does in group B had registered highest significantly (P<0.05) more milk (116.92 Lb) than those in group C and D as 114.15 Lb and 107.97 Lb respectively. The least milk was produced by the A group (control) of (79.73Lb) and which was significantly (P<0.05) less than supplemented groups. The daily milk production indicated that the does supplemented with baobab seed cake yielding significant (P<0.01) higher milk than control groups as 0.88,1.30, 1.27 and 1.20 Lb for group A, B, C and D respectively. The data indicated that supplementation had exerted a significant (P<0.05) effect on fat during 605-90 days with higher fat percentage in group C in 30-60 days as 3.75% and group D as 3. 57%. Protein % showed significant (P<0.05) effect during 0-30 and 60-90 days, where high percentages were in group C with 3.77%. Lactose and as content secured non-significant effected by baobab seed cake supplementation. In conclusion supplementation with baobab seed cake diet to Sudanese Desert goats during dry season improved milk production and inclusion of baobab seed cake at 65 % in the diet of Desert goats gave the highest milk yield.