Dietary Starch Concentration Affects Dairy Sheep and Goat Performances Differently during Mid-Lactation

Abstract

Simple Summary In order to favor milk production, this research suggests that the concentration of starch in the diet of dairy ewes in mid-lactation should be reduced, compared to early lactation, by introducing sources of highly digestible fiber. On the other hand, this type of diet is not adequate for dairy goats, which should maintain the use diets rich in starch, even in mid-lactation, to support milk yield, as well. Abstract Evolution of milk production, body reserves and blood metabolites and their relationships with dietary carbohydrates were compared in 30 Sarda dairy ewes and 26 Saanen dairy goats in mid-lactation. From 92 to 152 ± 11 days in milk (DIM), each species was allocated to two dietary treatments: high-starch (HS: 20.0% starch, on DM basis) and low-starch (LS: 7.8% starch, on DM basis) diets. In mid-lactating goats, the HS diet increased fat-corrected milk yield (FCM (3.5%); 2.65 vs. 2.53 kg/d; p = 0.019) and daily milk net energy (NEL; p = 0.025), compared to the LS diet. The body condition score (BCS) was not affected. In mid-lactating ewes, the LS diet increased FCM (6.5%) (1.47 vs. 1.36 kg/d; p = 0.008), and NEL (p = 0.008), compared to the HS diet. In addition, BCS was greater in HS than in LS ewes (3.53 vs. 3.38; p = 0.008). Goats had a higher growth hormone (GH) and lower insulin concentration than ewes (GH: 2.62 vs. 1.37 ng/mL; p = 0.04; insulin: 0.14 vs. 0.38 µg/L; p < 0.001 in goats and ewes, respectively). In conclusion, in mid-lactation, the two species responded differently to dietary carbohydrates, probably due to differences in the concentration of GH and insulin. The HS diet favored milk yield in goats and body reserve accumulation in ewes. In ewes, the partial replacement of starch with highly digestible fiber increased energy partitioning in favor of milk production.