Plant Oils in Goat Nutrition with the Aim to Produce Milk with Functional Ingredients

Project Title (ENG): Plant Oils in Goat Nutrition with the Aim of Producing Milk with Functional Ingredients

Acronym: GoFunctional

Project Duration: 19 February 2026 – 18 February 2031

Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Željka Klir Šalavardić, PhD

Collaborators: Đurđica Kovačić, Mario Ronta, Lidija Šoher

Partners:
Faculty of Food Technology Osijek

Project Summary:

Considering the positive effects of goat's milk on human health, for the last thirty years the modeling of goat diets in order to increase the functional ingredients in the milk has been studied. Plant oils as a supplement in diets for goats are a source of functional ingredients, such as fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols, which have a beneficial effect on the consumer's health. It is well known that, compared to other livestock, goat farming is the most in accordance with organic principles, which certainly contributes to the production of healthy foods. Therefore, the aim of this project is to implement different plant oils (pumpkin, hemp, and camelina oil) in the diets for goats and their goat kids while monitoring production traits, parameters of in vitro feed fermentation in rumen fluid, and parameters of health status as well. Besides, the aim is to determine the quality of goat's milk with an emphasis on the functional ingredients analysis. During the farm research, blood samples from goats and their kids will be taken (antioxidant status, metabolic profile: hematology, biochemistry, and enzyme activity), as well as milk samples (antioxidant status, chemical analysis of milk, and functional ingredients: fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals). Afterwards, the increase of functional ingredients in milk is expected, which will result in a value-added goat milk product.

Keywords: Nutrition, Plant oils, Goat milk, Functional ingredients

Total Project Budget: €297,800.00

Amount Awarded to FAZOS: €297,800.00

Project Website: –