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Quality and sensory milk traits of goats grazing Caatinga or confined receiving either corn or spineless cactus-based diets in the Brazilian semiarid environment

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the yield, physical–chemical properties, fatty acid (FA) profile, and sensory traits of goat milk under different nutritional strategies in a Brazilian semiarid environment. Eighteen lactating crossbred dairy goats were distributed in a completely randomized design with three nutritional strategies: Caatinga strategy (1.5% of body weight with a concentrate supplementation), Corn-based confined strategy, and Spineless Cactus confined strategy. Daily milk yield was recorded, and milk samples were collected from all animals. Goats fed the spineless cactus-based diet presented a higher milk yield than goats feed the other strategies. Moreover, milk from goats fed with a spineless Cactus confined strategy presented higher saturated FA (SFA), and a lower proportion of cis- monounsaturated FA, trans-monounsaturated FA, and c9,t11-18:2 than milk from goats feed the other strategies. Milk from goats in the pasture system presented the highest proportions of 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, and thus of polyunsaturated FA, when compared with milk from confined goats. We assume that milk from goats grazing in Caatinga pastures presents more benefits to human health due to the positive effects of this diet on the milk’s fat content and FA profile, and this feeding strategy also results in a better sensory evaluation that may increase the acceptability of goat milk by consumers. All nutritional strategies evaluated herein and adopted in the semiarid region of Brazil are recommended for maintaining the yield, physical–chemical properties, and acceptability of milk goats.

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The dataset generated or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

The authors would like to thank the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the doctoral scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia,, 58397-000, Brazil

    Beatriz Dantas Oliveira Fernandes, Alberício Pereira de Andrade, Divan Soares da Silva, Luana Magna de Souza & Ariosvaldo Nunes de Medeiros

  2. Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal

    Susana Paula Almeida Alves & Rui José Branquinho Bessa

  3. Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, 58051-900, Brazil

    Rita de Cássia Ramos do Egypto Queiroga

  4. Federal University of the South and Southeast of Pará, Xinguara, PA, 68557-335, Brazil

    Anaiane Pereira Souza

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  1. Beatriz Dantas Oliveira Fernandes
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  8. Rui José Branquinho Bessa
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  9. Ariosvaldo Nunes de Medeiros
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Contributions

The study was designed by Beatriz Dantas Oliveira Fernandes, Rita de Cássia Ramos do Egypto Queiroga, and Ariosvaldo Nunes de Medeiros. Beatriz Dantas Oliveira Fernandes collected data in the field and laboratory and wrote the first draft. Rui José Branquinho Bessa, Susana Paula Almeida Alves, and Anaiane Pereira Souza improved and corrected the manuscript. Alberício Pereira de Andrade, Divan Soares da Silva and Luana Magna de Souza contributed to the study. All the authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ariosvaldo Nunes de Medeiros.

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All procedures on the goats were performed following the principles of the Animal Ethics Committee under code number 0762015. The proposal for this sensory analysis was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Health Sciences Center under CAAE #02228812.7.0000.5188.

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Fernandes, B.D.O., Alves, S.P.A., de Cássia Ramos do Egypto Queiroga, R. et al. Quality and sensory milk traits of goats grazing Caatinga or confined receiving either corn or spineless cactus-based diets in the Brazilian semiarid environment. Trop Anim Health Prod 55, 284 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03698-x

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