Year: 2025 | Month: December | Volume 15 | Issue 6
Evaluating Whey-based Milk Replacer as a Sustainable Alternative to Dam’s Milk for Malabari Goat Kids
Sasikala
Sabin George2
Anil
K.S.
Manju Sasidharan
Thirupathy
V.R. and Muhammad Aslam
M.K.
DOI:10.30954/2277-940X.06.2025.10
Abstract:
This study examined the growth and economic outcomes of Malabari kids reared on different milk replacers compared with natural dam’s milk. Healthy kids were assigned to four feeding groups: dam’s milk, whey-based replacer, groundnut-based replacer, and coconut-based replacer. All kids received colostrum at birth and were reared on the assigned diets until weaning. Key performance indicators included growth rate, feed efficiency, health status, and cost of feeding. Kids raised on dam’s milk and whey-based replacer showed better growth and feed efficiency than those on groundnut or coconut-based replacers. Health parameters remained comparable across groups, though digestive issues were more frequent in oilcake-based diets. The wheybased replacer proved to be the most cost-effective option, offering a sustainable and practical alternative to dam’s milk for smallholder goat production.
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