Performance and eating behaviour of crossbred goats in Mediterranean climate of Turkey

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to investigate milk yield and eating behaviour of crossbred goats, German Improved Fawn × Hair crossbred (GIF) and Saanen × Hair goats (S), in subtropical eastern Mediterranean climate of Turkey during early summer season. Eight GIF and eight S goats were individually housed in 1.5 × 1.5 m pens. Diurnal eating patterns were monitored by a system that recorded meal size and meal length. Milk yield (kg/day) was 1.77 in GIF and 2.0 in S goats, whereas milk production efficiency (kg feed/kg milk) was 1.15 in GIF and 1.07 in S goats. The differences between GIF and S goats in eating behaviour parameters were significant: the S goats had higher meal size and meal length and longer inter-meal interval, meal time, and eating rate within in each meal, but lower number of meals in comparison with GIF goats. German Improved Fawn × Hair crossbred and Saanen × Hair goats have similar lactation performance under good nutritional condition, but their eating behaviours are quite different.