The nutritive value of buckwheat hay or silage and its effect on milk yield of dairy goat

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of different conservation methods of buckwheat nutritive value, fermentation quality and on intake and milk yields of saanen dairy goats. Green buckwheat was harvested at dough stage and either ensiled directly or wilted up to 35% dry matter (DM) content before ensiling. A part of buckwheat field was harvested for hay production. Buckwheat (two silage form and hay) was included to the dairy saanen goat total mixed ration (TMR) at a level of 20%. A total of 24 goats were used and they were divided into four groups. Goats were fed four different total mixed rations containing two silage, hay and control group. Wilting increased lactic acid (P<0.05) content and DM recovery at about 14.2%, but decreased (P<0.05) ammonia-N and enterobacteria count which resulted in more hygienic silage. Buckwheat hay had less (P<0.05) lignin content, but more (P<0.05) total digestible nutrient and phenolic compounds than silages. Direct ensiled buckwheat silages had lower fermentation quality and nutritive value, yet DM intake and milk yield of dairy goats was similar (P>0.05) among the four groups. Buckwheat fed goat had higher (P<0.05) total phenolic compounds in milk. In conclusion, use of hay or wilted silages of buckwheat had higher nutritive value for goats and increased the total phenolic compounds of their milk.