For centuries, herbs have been utilized by humans as a natural remedy for various ailments and disorders.
In recent years, herbs have also been used to improve the health and well-being of livestock, particularly goats. If you’re a goat farmer, you might be interested to know that certain herbs can help increase milk production in your herd.
So let’s look in more detail and explore the benefits of two valuable herbs that can enhance milk production in goats.
Boosting Milk Production in Goats: The Power of Herbs
Lemongrass
First off, let’s talk about lemongrass. Lemongrass is a fragrant herb commonly used in Asian cuisine. But, did you know that it also has medicinal properties that can benefit your goats?
Research has shown that daily addition of lemongrass in goat’s diet at 10 g per goat can significantly enhance nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation.
This means that goats can better absorb the nutrients in their food and convert them into usable energy. As a result, milk production can increase by up to 12% in goats who consume lemongrass regularly.
Rosemary
Next, let’s talk about rosemary. Rosemary is another herb that has significant benefits for goat farmers.
Like lemongrass, daily addition of rosemary in a goat’s diet at 10 g per goat can improve nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation.
Research has also shown that rosemary can increase milk production by approximately 15% in goats.
The herb can positively modify milk fatty acid profile, which means that the fats in the milk become healthier for consumption.
Apart from improving milk production, both lemongrass and rosemary have other benefits for goats. Lemongrass has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help prevent infections and keep goats healthy.
On the other hand, rosemary has antioxidant properties that can protect goats’ bodies from free radical damage. By adding these herbs to your goats’ diet, you’re not only improving their milk production but also their overall health and well-being.
So, how do you add these herbs to your goats’ diet? It’s quite simple. You can either add them fresh to the feed or dry them and crush them before mixing with the feed.
In both cases, make sure that you’re adding the recommended amount of herbs per goat, which is 10 g/day. Also, avoid feeding goats with plants that are toxic or poisonous as this can cause serious health problems.
Final Thoughts
Introducing lemongrass and rosemary to your goats’ diet can significantly improve milk production and, most importantly, their overall health and well-being.
These herbs have been proven to enhance nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and milk fatty acid profile in goats. As a goat farmer, it’s essential to consider using natural remedies like herbs to promote the health and productivity of your herd.
Try incorporating lemongrass and rosemary into your goat’s diet and reap the benefits of these powerful herbs.
