The objective of this study was to evaluate nutrient intake, blood parameters and digestibility of nutrients on 20 feedlot Saanen goats (70.65±7.39 kg) at 21 days prepartum. Diets with the following energy levels and forage:concentrate ratios were fed: 2.95, 2.83, 2.70, 2.58, and 2.44 Mcal of ME/kg of DM and 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, and 80:20, respectively. A completely randomized design with four replications per treatment was used. Animal body weight and blood samples were taken weekly. The different dietary energy levels did not affect body weight (kg) and intakes of DM, OM, CP, TC, NDF, and TDN. However, a significant linear effect was observed for intake of EE by increasing the dietary energy level. With the exception of CP, apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, EE, NDF, TC, and GE all increased linearly when the energy content of the diet increased from 2.44 to 2.95 Mcal of ME/kg of DM. No significant effects were observed for the blood concentrations of cholesterol and urea among treatments. Conversely, concentration of blood triglycerides accompanied the increment of energy in the diet and increased linearly. It can be concluded that the diet with 2.95 Mcal of ME/kg of DM resulted in greater nutrient availability than diets with lower energy content when fed to prepartum Saanen goats.
digestion; energy level; transition period; blood urea
