Protein, fiber, and mineral nutrition of growing dairy goats.

Seven yearling Alpine does were in a series of balance trials to determine apparent utilization of fiber, protein, and minerals. The 34 kg does consumed 2.2% body weight of a hay-concentrate ration that was 18.8% crude protein, 40.9% neutral detergent fiber, 24.7% acid detergent fiber, 1.18% calcium, .67% phosphorus, .39% magnesium, .98% potassium, and .48% sodium. Digestion coefficients were 59.5, 68.5, 42.3, 70.6, and 29.3 for dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose, and acid detergent fiber. Retention (g/day) was: 2.6, 1.3, 2.1, 1.8, and 1.1 for calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Nitrogen intake was related in a positive linear fashion to fecal nitrogen, urinary nitrogen, and absorbed nitrogen. Apparent absorption rates were 2.7, 1.4, 1.3, 5.1, and 3.2 g per doe per day for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. Mineral retentions as percent of grams apparently absorbed were 96.2, 88.2, 80.9, 37.7, and 56.0.