Nutritional drivers of milk yield and composition in Sapera dairy goats: Insights from smallholder farms in Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between nutrient intake specifically dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) and milk production, as well as milk lactose and protein content, in Sapera dairy goats managed by smallholder farmers in Central Java, Indonesia. The study was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024 using 42 Sapera goats in their second lactation (1–2 months in milk) from six farms. Feed intake, milk yield, and milk composition were measured, and relationships between nutrient intake and production traits were analyzed using both linear and quadratic regression models. The average body weight of goats was 44.17 ± 5.48 kg, with DM and CP intakes of 1.96 ± 0.65 kg/day and 0.31 ± 0.36 kg/day, respectively. Average milk yield was 1.81 ± 0.34 kg/day, with lactose and protein yields of 0.07 ± 0.01 kg/day each. Significant correlations (P < 0.05) were found between DM intake and milk yield, lactose yield, and protein yield, as well as between CP intake and milk protein yield. In all cases, quadratic models explained the relationships better than linear models, indicating that milk production and composition increased with nutrient intake up to an optimum level before plateauing. These findings highlight the critical role of adequate but balanced nutrient intake in optimizing milk yield and quality in Sapera goats. The results provide practical insights for improving feeding strategies in smallholder dairy goat production systems in Indonesia.