Productive Performance and Milk Composition of Intensively Managed Dairy Goats Supplemented with a Commercial Glucogenic-precursor Mixture in Northern Mexico

Background: During early lactation, goats may experience a negative energy balance because the energy expenditure required for milk synthesis exceeds dietary energy intake, resulting in the mobilization of body reserves to compensate for this deficit. To mitigate this imbalance, the use of glucogenic precursors (GP) has emerged as a potential nutritional strategy. These compounds act as gluconeogenic substrates, helping to alleviate the energy deficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term supplementation with a commercial GP on productive performance and milk composition (MC) of dairy goats in an intensive production system. Methods: Sixty clinically healthy, multiparous crossbred lactating goats (Alpine-Saanen-Nubian), in their third lactation at the beginning of the experiment, were used. Goats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (n = 20 per group) based on the daily supplementation dose, administered for 42 days. Treat 5 received 5 g animal-1 day-1 of a commercial glucogenic-precursor mixture (CG-PM). Treat 2.5 received 2.5 g animal-1 day-1 of the same product, whereas Cont received no supplementation of CG-PM. Productive variables and MC were determined weekly. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, correlation analysis was performed among the response variables. Result: At the end of the experimental period (day 42), statistically significant differences among treatments were detected (P ≤ 0.05). Final live weight and body condition score were higher in Treat 5 than in the other treatments. At the end of the study, milk production was higher in the supplemented groups than in the control group. Regarding MC, the fat percentage was higher in Treat 5 at the end of the study. Likewise, positive and statistically significant Pearson correlations were observed among several response variables, mainly those related to MC.