Dietary inclusion of Morus alba leaves influences milk production and offspring growth performance in dairy goats

This study evaluated the effects of incorporating Morus alba (mulberry, "ML") leaves into the diets of Damascus does and their offspring on productive, reproductive, and economic performance. Thirty-six multiparous Damascus does in the last third of pregnancy were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments for 150 days: a control group (ML0), a group in which 25% of the diet was replaced with mulberry leaves (ML25), and a group in which 50% of the diet was replaced with mulberry leaves (ML50). The feeding trial extended throughout late gestation and the suckling period, whereas reproductive performance was evaluated during the subsequent postpartum breeding season. Results indicated that ML inclusion significantly enhanced nutrient digestibility and optimized rumen fermentation, as evidenced by increased volatile fatty acids and lower ruminal ammonia levels. Milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk showed only numerical, non-significant increases, while fat yield was improved despite lower milk fat and protein percentages in the mulberry-supplemented groups. Reproductive performance also improved, with the ML50 group showing enhanced estrus response, elevated progesterone levels, and better fertility rated outcoms during the subsequent postpartum breeding season. Kids from the supplemented groups showed significantly higher weaning weight, whereas total weight gain and average daily gain increased numerically but did not reach statistical significance. Economically, the ML50 treatment yielded the highest efficiency and strongest financial outcomes. In conclusion, replacing 50% of the diet with mulberry leaves may offer a sustainable and cost-effective strategy to improve goat productivity by supporting rumen function, fat yield, offspring weaning performance, postpartum reproductive responses, and economic returns.