The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of body condition score (BCS) and different dietary net energy (NE) levels during prepartum on performance and concentration of plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in early lactating dairy goats. Animals (four replicates per treatment) were assigned to a completely randomized design in a 2 x 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (two BCS, three levels of prepartum NE and two levels of postpartum NE). In the beginning of the trial, animals were separated in two groups according to the BCS assuming 3.25 as the average BCS value. Net energy levels during prepartum were: 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6 Mcal NE/kg DM while at postpartum the values were: 1.4 and 1.6 Mcal NE/kg DM. The interaction between BCS and postpartum NE was significant for NDF intake because goats with lower BCS increased fiber intake when NE was reduced in the diet. Levels of dietary net energy during the postpartum affected both intake and milk yield. There were no effects of dietary NE level and BCS on plasma concentration of NEFA during the postpartum period indicating low mobilization of lipids from adipose tissue.
goats; lactation; non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)
