Effect of Dietary Organic Acids and Botanicals on Metabolic Status and Milk Parameters in Mid–Late Lactating Goats

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Alternative feed additives could offer nutritional strategies that help to prevent metabolic disorders in ruminants by exerting beneficial effects on the animals’ metabolic and immune statuses. In particular, organic acids (OA), such as citric acid and sorbic acid, and pure botanicals (PB), such as thymol and vanillin, have been widely used in the field of animal nutrition for their positive effects on production performances and known effects on metabolic and immune statuses. Since no information is available on goats, the goal of this study was to investigate the effects of OA/PB supplementation on the metabolic status and milk parameters of dairy goats. The results showed that the metabolic status of the treated goats was not negatively affected by the OA/PB supplementation. Moreover, OA/PB increased the milk fat content and the milk coagulation index, which are favorable effects in relation to the technological properties of milk. These findings encourage further studies on OA/PB supplementation in the dairy goat diet. ABSTRACT: The microencapsulated mixture of organic acids and pure botanicals (OA/PB) has never been evaluated in goats. The aim of this study was to extend the analysis to mid–late lactating dairy goats, evaluating the effects of OA/PB supplementation on the metabolic status, milk bacteriological and composition characteristics, and milk yield. Eighty mid–late lactating Saanen goats were randomly assigned to two groups: one group was fed the basal total balanced ration (TMR) (CRT; n = 40) and the other was fed a diet that was TMR supplemented with 10 g/head of OA/PB (TRT; n = 40) for 54 days during the summer period. The temperature–humidity index (THI) was recorded hourly. On days T0, T27, and T54, the milk yield was recorded, and blood and milk samples were collected during the morning milking. A linear mixed model was used, considering the fixed effects: diet, time, and their interaction. The THI data (mean ± SD: 73.5 ± 3.83) show that the goats did not endure heat stress. The blood parameters fell within the normal range, confirming that their metabolic status was not negatively influenced by OA/PB supplementation. OA/PB increased the milk fat content (p = 0.04) and milk coagulation index (p = 0.03), which are effects that are looked on as favorable by the dairy industry in relation to cheese production.