II. International Agricultural, Biological & Life Science Conference, Edirne, Turkey, 1 - 03 September 2020, pp.436-440
Galactogenic plants are used to increase milk production both in human and lactating animals.
There are a limited numbers of studies in the literature about the use of fenugreek seeds for
increasing ruminant animal’s milk production. This study was aims to determine the effects
of fenugreek seeds on performance of mid lactation goats. For this purpose 20 heads of
Turkish Saanen goats were used as an animal material of the study. The experiment animals
kept in individual cages during the study. The study was carried out on the basis of two group
Control (CON; n=10) was fed with total mixed rations (TMR) while the Fenugreek group
(FG; n=10) was fed with total mixed rations (TMR) and 100 g/day fenugreek seeds. In the
experiment feed intake was recorded daily, body weight, milk yield and milk nutrient
compositions were determined weekly interval. There were no differences between the groups
about daily dry matter, crude protein and metabolizable energy intake (P>0.05). The
fenugreek supplementation did not change live weight (P=0.4940) and milk production
(P=0.9251). But increased 3.5% fat corrected milk yield (FCM). The fenugreek
supplementation was increased milk fat (P<0.0001) and total solids (P=0.0002) concentration.
In conclusion fenugreek seeds supplementation level at 100 g/day was significantly increase
fat concentration in goat’s milk. There is a need for future studies to determine the effects of
supplementing different level of fenugreek seeds and it is effects on milk fatty acid profile.