Health status, antioxidants and milk quality of goats reared under stall-fed and free range grazing system

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine health status and milk quality of goats reared under stall fed and free range grazing system. The research areas reported higher THI throughout the summer. Respiration rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) was significantly higher during summer in both the groups. Both groups had significantly increased neutrophils and eosinophils during the summer and increased Hb, PCV, and lymphocyte during the winter. Stall fed goats had significantly higher MDA during summer. The free range group had significantly higher levels of SOD and GSH in the summer and winter, respectively.Vitamins C and E levels declined during the summer. In both the groups, summer levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly higher but remained within the reference range. During the summer, both groups of goats showed a significant decrease in plasma glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Total proteins (TP) and Albumin both significantly declined during the winter in both the groups. Total immunoglobulins significantly increased during the winter in the free range group. Throughout the winter and the summer, respectively, the fat percentage increased in the milk of the stall-fed and free-range groups. Moreover, solid not fat (SNF) significantly declined in stall fed group during the winter. Also, there was no discernible difference in the amount of milk proteins between the groups; however, during the summer, it was discovered that stall-fed goats had more of them. The milk lactose significantly increased in both the groups in the time of summer though the increase was remarkable in stall fed goats. The present study indicated that stall fed and free range reared goats in winter and summer exhibit physiological variation in their health state, milk production, and composition.