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Simple Summary: The rational use of agriculture and agro-industrial by-products in ruminant nutrition contributes to greater respect for the environment in addition to a better final product quality. Artichoke crops are widespread in the Mediterranean region but mostly not properly valued. Previous studies carried out with artichoke by-product silage at 25, 40 and 60% inclusion in dairy goat feed for one month showed that 40% inclusion would be a good option without any harm to milk yield and composition or animal health status. Therefore, it is worth studying the effect of feeding animals with 40% artichoke by-product silage during a full lactation period. No negative effects were observed on animal performances and productivity, allowing us to reduce agroindustry wastes and offering a long-term preserved by-product that promotes a sustainable circular economy and the production of animal products with high nutritional value, like goat milk. The aim of this work is to study the effect of 40% inclusion of artichoke by-product silage (AB) in dairy goat diets on milk yield, composition and animal health status during a full lactation period compared to an isoenergetic and isoproteic mixed ration based on alfalfa hay and a cereal and legume mixture. Milk yield was not affected by the dietary treatments, and neither was body weight. AB treatment reduced whey protein (0.38 vs. 0.42%, p < 0.05) and milk urea concentrations (687 vs. 773 mg/L, respectively, p < 0.001), and did not affect total true protein (3.22 vs. 3.24% p > 0.05) or other macro-composition variables. AB treatment showed higher milk concentrations of Ca (p < 0.05), Mn (p < 0.01), Cu (p < 0.01) and Zn (p < 0.001) compared to the control group (C). Slight differences were observed in milk fatty acid profile without any negative effects (p > 0.05) on the blood cholesterol and glucose of goats. The AB group reduced blood urea due to its high dietary total phenol content. However, it had a positive effect on β-hydroxybutyrate (p < 0.05) and nonesterified fatty acids (p > 0.05). It was concluded that 40% artichoke by-product inclusion in dairy goat feed for the whole lactation period (23 weeks) is a sustainable solution, reducing feeding cost by 12.5% per kg of dry matter, contributing to a better circular economy without any negative repercussions on the productivity and health of Murciano–Granadina dairy goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the Mediterranean region, artichoke and broccoli are major crops with a high number of by-products that can be used as alternative feedstuffs for ruminants, lowering feed costs and enhancing milk sustainability while reducing the environmental impact of dairy production. However, the nutritional quality of milk needs to be assured under these production conditions. A 40% inclusion of these silage by-products has proven to be a good short-term option (1 month). Therefore, it is interesting to study the effect of feeding animals with these by-products for a longer time, such as full lactation (6 months). With this type of feeding, the performance of the animals fed with the artichoke plant silage was similar to that of those fed with a conventional diet (alfalfa and cereals), even improving the milk quality from the point of view of bioactive compounds. However, the performance of goats fed with broccoli by-product silage in high amounts worsened due to a low intake of the diet containing that by-product. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce its level of inclusion. The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of a 40% inclusion of broccoli by-product (BB) and artichoke plant (AP) silages in dairy goat diets on the milk yield, composition and animal health status during a full lactation. Feed consumption was lower in AP and BB animals due to their composition and higher moisture content, and BB animals showed a significant reduction in body weight. Milk from the BB treatment had the highest fat content, total solids and useful dry matter content (5.02, 13.9 and 8.39%, respectively). The Se level was slightly lower in AP and BB animals; however, the milk of these treatments was the lowest in Na and, in the case of BB animals, the richest in Ca (1267 mg/kg). Control and AP milk showed a similar fatty acid profile, although AP had a more beneficial aptitude for human health (lower ratio of n6/n3, 12.5). Plasma components, as metabolic parameters, were adequate for goats. It was concluded that a 40% inclusion of AP is an adequate solution to reduce the cost of feeding without harming the animals' health or performance and to improve the nutritional milk quality. It is necessary to lower the BB level of inclusion to increase feed consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The silage quality of Mediterranean by-products and their preference were assessed. • Goats showed a clear preference for ensiled artichoke bracts. • Silages with a good level of lactate are well accepted by goats. • Silages with high butyrate and NDF contents are poorly accepted. • Goat short-term preference is a good indicator of silage quality. In Mediterranean countries, large quantities of by-products are generated from artichoke and broccoli crops, as well as large masses of common reed due to the cleaning of riverbeds. They have traditionally been applied directly in animal feed, especially for small ruminants, without undergoing any preservation process. Their inclusion in diets would allow three benefits: feeding animals with materials containing high nutrient contents all year round (not only in the crop season) in a well-balanced ration, lowering the feeding costs and reducing the amount of residues and their elimination cost for producers. Through the silage process, these feedstuffs can be preserved to ensure year-round availability. The aim of this short-term preference trial was to evaluate the goats' preference among four different ensiled feedstuffs and to study the relationship between animal preference and the silage composition. The four alternative silage-feedstuffs were offered to four nulliparous Murciano-Granadina goats (34.9 ± 1.9 kg) in a multiple square or cafeteria design. The feedstuffs tested were artichoke bracts (Cynara scolymus), artichoke plant, a 50:50 mixture of broccoli by-product (Brassica oleracea , var. Italica) and artichoke bracts, and common reed (Phragmites australis). To determine preference, data were collected on feed intake and the time each animal spent eating each feedstuff for four hours each day. Macrocomposition and some functional and chemical characteristic silages were analysed. The relation between DM intake and chemical composition of the tested feedstuffs was determined using correlation and regression analyses. The artichoke bracts silage presented the highest cumulative intake at 4 h (3.26 g DM/kg BW); being different from artichoke plant silage (2.17 g DM/kg BW), the second most consumed. Broccoli + artichoke and common reed silage intake was significantly lower than those of the other two feeds (0.36 and 0.67 g DM/kg BW, respectively). The strongest correlations between DM intake after 4 h (g of DM) and the nutritional and chemical characteristics of the silages were found with digestible energy (r = 0.60, P < 0.001), lactic acid (r = 0.56, P < 0.001) and lignin (r = -0.54, P < 0.001). The relation was described by a best fit equation of the formula DM intake = -207.45 + 31.94 * lactic acid + 11.76 * CP (R2 = 0.48, P < 0.001). Goats showed a clear preference for ensiled artichoke bracts, followed by artichoke plant silage, with the broccoli + artichoke and common reed silages being less accepted. The feedstuff composition, especially lactic acid and crude protein contents, affects preference. Since no feedstuff was rejected in its entirety by animals and previous results ensured a good quality of these silages, the four feedstuffs had the potential for incorporation into goat diet, due to their nutritional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]