EFFECT OF FEEDING NONCONVENTIONAL TREE FODDERS ON FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION AND NITROGEN FRACTIONS OF GOAT MILK

Feeding of non-conventional tree forages, viz. Leucaena leucocephala (LL), Dichrostes nutan (DN), Capparis horrida (CH), Balanites aegyptiaca (BA), did not alter the levels of butyric and capric acids in goat milk-fat. Feeding of LL and BA caused an appreciable increase in caprylic and capric acids, respectively, in milk of both Jamunapari and Barbari goats. Myristic and palmitic acids also increased when non-conventional forages were fed. These feeds had in general depressed stearic acid content. Feeding of DN had similar effect as that of control. Unsaturated fatty acids were also influenced by feeding of non-conventional roughages. Breed variation had insignificant effect on the constituent fatty acids of goat milk. Total N, non-protein N (NPN), protein N and casein N contents of goat milk were significantly affected by the feeding of non-conventional forages. Breed variation only had significant effect on NPN content of goat milk. The effect of feeding regimes and breed variation was nonsignificant on whey protein, N, total albumin N, beta-lactoglobulin N, residual albumin N, proteose peptone N and globulin N in goat milk.