Apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance of preruminant kids fed with cow's milk or soybean protein

Abstract

Eighteen 7-day-old male kids (crossbred Saanen or Anglonubian x Brazilian na-tive kids) were used to study the apparent digestibility (AD) and nitrogen retention (NR). The kids were fed twice daily either with goat's milk (GMI), cow's milk (CMI) or milk replacers con-taining cow's milk and texturised soybean protein (CSP). Six kids were randomly assigned to each diet. Goat's milk was replaced gradually by the experimental diets from the 8^th day (two days of transition) which were given until the 56^th day (200g/kg/LW per day). The AD of dry matter, ether extract, organic matter, nitrogen-free extract, ash, calcium, and phosphorus was al-most the same (P>0,05) in the GMI and CMI diets, but higher (P<0,05) than in CSP diet. The AD of N and its retention were higher (P<0,05) in the GNU and less in the CSP diet, while CMI diet came in between.