This experiment was carried out to evaluate productive performance, dry matter and nutrient digestibility, and milk composition of Saanen goats fed rations with soybean hulls (SBH) as a corn ground replacement (0, 50 and 100%SBH), during lactation until prepartum (30 days). Eighteen goats were used (75.70 ± 10.59 kg) in a completely randomized design. The rations presented 14.82% CP and 2.28 Mcal ME/kg DM intake. The animals were confined in individual pens, with daily control of ration intake and milk production. At the 150th lactation day and also 20 th days before kidding, fecal sampling started to be collected to determine ration and nutrient digestibilities. Monthly, milk samples were collected to analyses the main constituents. The levels of SBH did not affect body weight (BW), dry matter (DMI) and organic matter (OMI) intake, dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD) and crude protein (CPD) digestibility for milk production, milk production efficiency and milk composition during lactation; likewise for BW and digestibilities of DM and OM in prepartum period. The SBH influenced the intakes of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and digestibility of neutral detergent fiber in the two evaluated periods. In prepartum period, the greatest results for DM and OM intakes , digestibility of CP and plasma urea nitrogen were obtained with the level of 100%SBH. Soybean hulls can be used as a corn ground replacement in rations for lactating Saanen goats without changes in productive performance and milk composition.
by-product feed; digestion; goat; milk
