DCD4, DCD5 High-Concentrate Early Lactation Diets
The following two 40 percent forage, 60 percent concentrate diets were used in the early lactation experiment in which DCD2 and DCD3 were fed. These diets were relatively high in CP, with approximately 19 percent of dry matter. The level of neutral detergent fiber in the diet was about 33 percent of dry matter. The DCD5 diet included some feedstuffs high in ruminally undegraded protein, for example, escape or bypass protein. These diets supported greater milk production by does and doelings in the early lactation period compared with diets containing 20 percent concentrate and 80 percent forage (DCD2 and DCD3). The diets containing additional ruminally undegraded protein (DCD3 and DCD5) improved milk production only in the first few weeks of the early lactation period. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those used for CD2.
| Ingredient | DCD4 | DCD5 | |
| ———–% (dry matter basis)———- | |||
| Cottonseed hulls | 20.00 | 20.00 | |
| Alfalfa hay | 20.00 | 20.00 | |
| Ground corn | 31.31 | 36.09 | |
| Soybean meal | 17.60 | 5.33 | |
| Blood meal | 0.00 | 2.43 | |
| Fish meal | 0.00 | 3.18 | |
| Feather meal | 0.00 | 2.46 | |
| Molasses | 3.00 | 3.00 | |
| Partially hydrogenated tallow | 3.00 | 3.00 | |
| Dicalcium phosphate | 1.08 | 0.89 | |
| Limestone | 1.20 | 0.81 | |
| Ammonium sulfate | 0.25 | 0.25 | |
| Sodium bicarbonate | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| Vitamin premix | 0.50 | 0.50 | |
| Trace mineralized salt | 0.76 | 0.76 | |
| Magnesium oxide | 0.30 | 0.30 | |
Reference: Hart, S. P. and A. L. Goetsch. 2001. Goat Diet/Feeding Examples. Pages 64-85 in Proc. 16th Ann. Goat Field Day, Langston University, Langston, OK.