The objective of this study was to evaluate thedifferent contents of neutral detergent fiber from forage at advanced maturityon intake, digestibility of the dry matter and of nutrients, nitrogen balance,milk production, efficiency metabolizable energy use and the ingestive behaviorof lactating goats. Five dairy goats were distributed in 5 × 5 Latin squareby using increasing contents of neutral detergent fiber from forage as independentvariable. Concentrations of neutral detergent fiber from forage used were 20,28, 35, 43 and 49%. The intakes of dry matter, of nutrients and of net energywere reduced with the increase of fiber to the ration. However the intake ofneutral detergent fiber was increasing, indicating the capacity of accommodationof this nutrient by the animals. Fiber content influenced digestibility coefficientsof dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and non-fibrous carbohydrates butdigestibility of neutral detergent fiber was not influenced by the diets. Levelof neutral detergent fiber from forage did not influence milk constituents (fat,protein and lactose). Content of fiber from the forage had a quadratic effecton milk production (corrected and not corrected for 4% of fat) in kg.day-1,with greater productions obtained with the content of 28% of fiber. Efficiencyof use of the metabolizable energy was not influenced by the variations of thediets. Content of neutral detergent fiber from forage influences ingestive behaviorof goats in lactation, increasing the time of rumination and chewing and reducingiddle time of the animals.
