IMPACT OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS AND/OR VITAMIN E AND SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON MILK COMPOSITION AND FATTY ACIDS PROFILE OF LACTATING BALADI GOATS

Twenty eight lactating Baladi goats (3-4 years old and the average weight ranged from 33.9 – 35.6 kg) after two weeks of parturition were assigned according to milk production into four groups (7 animals each).  Each group was randomly assigned to feed one of the following experimental rations, control ration (R1) consists of 50% concentrate feed mixture and 50% Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum), control ration was supplemented with either whole sunflower seeds (SFS) to provide 3.5% oil from DM intake (R2), 250 IU vitamin E and 2 mg selenium/h/d (R3) or both of the previous supplementation (R4). There were no significant differences among tested groups in digestibility of DM, CP, CF and EE. The lowest nutrients digestibility was recorded with R2 while, the highest were with R4. Goats fed either R3 or R4 had the highest globulin and the lowest cholesterol concentrations in blood plasma. There were no differences among groups in DMI, milk yield and milk contents of protein, lactose, TS and SNF while, milk fat content was increased with SFS supplementation (R2 and R4) compared with R1. Feeding on rations supplemented with vitamin E plus selenium (R3 and R4) increased their concentrations in milk. Total saturated fatty acids were decreased and total unsaturated fatty acids (TUFA), mono- and poly- unsaturated fatty acids were increased in milk when goats fed on R2 and R4. It could be concluded that feeding lactating goats on ration supplemented with SFS and vitamin E plus selenium improved lactation performance and increased TUFA, vitamin E and selenium in milk, which may have good impact on consumer's health.