Effect of Feeding Fennel Straw (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) on Performance of Lactating Goats

To evaluate the effect of inclusion of fennel straw (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) in the diet of lactating goats, two complete diets containing either 20% Rhodes grass hay or 20% fennel straw were balanced to be isonitrogenous. Twelve lactating Saudi native goats of Aardi breed in their early lactation were divided equally into two groups depending on milk yield and were assigned to the two diets for 6-wk. Milk yield, milk production efficiency, milk composition and feed intake were not affected by fennel straw feeding. It can be concluded that fennel straw could be included in the diet of lactating goats without adversely affecting lactation performance.