Influence of a nonforage diet on plasma leptin in dairy goats throughout lactation

The aim of this study was to compare the plasma level of leptin in lactating goats fed a traditional silage-based diet or a totally free forage diet, throughout lactation and during the pre and post-feeding state. Conclusions: The opposite trend in the pattern of diet effects on DMI and plasma leptin, both in pre- and postfeeding state, induces to retain that in goats throughout lactation the levels of leptin can be related to DM intake, as Barb (1999) proposed in other animal models. Finally, it is interesting to note that also in lactating goats, as in other species, plasma leptin level increased during the post-feeding phase.