Formulation and testing of a whey-based kid goat's milk replacer

A milk replacer using 29% whey and vegetable oils was formulated for kid goats in order to reduce costs of kid goat feeding. This new milk replacer (FCA) was compared with a commercial (COM) calf milk replacer, generally used by farmers in the rearing of young goats. Twenty-six Saanen-Criollo kids were fed from 6 to 57 days of age with these two replacers ad libitum. The replacers were given warm (37 °C) and at an approximate concentration of 17% DM. Differences of growth were found between treatments (P < 0.05), being the daily gain average 120.6 and 132.3 g/day for FCA and COM, respectively. The DM conversion index was 1.4 kg DM replacer/kg weight gain in FCA treatment and 1.64 in COM. The total costs of the milk replacers were 12.22 and 31.11 US$ per animal for FCA and COM, respectively. Muscular and perirenal fat contents were higher in FCA goats. Fatty acid composition of perirenal fat showed differences in 9 fatty acids; in the case of FCA, 1.48:1 ratio of Omega 6:Omega 3, less than 7.19:1 of COM; and unsaturated/saturated ratio of 1.22 in FCA, more than 0.92 in COM. The ratios are more beneficial for human nutrition in kid goats fed FCA replacer. A meat acceptability trial was done, and no differences were found between treatments (P > 0.05). It can be concluded that in spite of the lower intake and growth obtained with FCA, its better DM conversion index and lower cost, make its use economically feasible, besides, that carcass more suitable for consumers was obtained.