**1. Introduction**

28 Milk Production – An Up-to-Date Overview of Animal Nutrition, Management and Health

*and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology*, 5, 375-381

goats milk. *Small Ruminant Research*, 33, 137-143

regimen. *Italian Journal of Animal Science*, 2, 515-517

SAS/STAT User's Guide. (2000). Version 8. Cary, SAS Institute

in humans. *Journal of Applied Physiology*, 19, 335–337

variations. *Livestock Production Science*, 4, 397-405

pasture. *Small Ruminant Research*, 64, 45-52

*Ruminant Research*, 16, 165-169

milk fat. *Journal of Dairy Science*, 82, 1339–1349

*Journal of Nutrition*, 127, 1055-1060

Washington, DC, pp. 77–109

*Research*, 43, 141-148

Lock, A.L.; Rovai, M.; Gipson, T.A.; de Veth, M.J. & Bauman, D.E. (2008). A conjugated linoleic acid supplement containing trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid reduces

Manlongat, N.; Yang, T.J.; Hinckley, L.S.; Bendel, R.B. & Krider, H.M. (1998). Physiologicchemoattractant-induced migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in milk. *Clinical* 

McGuire, M.A.; McGuire, M.K. (1999). Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA): a ruminant fatty acid with beneficial effects on human health. *Journal of Animal Science*, 77 (suppl.1): 118-125 Mir, Z.; Goonewardeneb, L.A.; Okineb, E.; Jaegarc, S. & Scheer, H.D. (1999). Effect of feeding canola oil on constituents, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and long chain fatty acids in

Nudda, A.; Mele, M.; Battacone, G.; Usai, M.G.; Macciotta, N.P.P. (2003). Comparison of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in milk of ewes and goats with the same dietary

Parodi, P.W.F. (1997). Cow's milk fat components as potential anticancerogenic agents.

Parodi, P. W. (1999). Conjugated linoleic acid and other anticarcinogenic agents of bovine

Posati, L.P. & Orr, M.L. (1976). Composition of Foods, Dairy and Egg Products, Agriculture Handbook No. 8-1. USDA-ARS, Consumer and Food Economics Institute Publishers,

Sanz Sampelayo, M.R.; Pérez, L.; Martín Alonso, J.J.; Amigo, L.; Boza, J. (2002). Effects of concentrates with different contents of protected fat rich in PUFAs on the performance lactating Granadina goats. Part II. Milk production and composition. *Small Ruminant* 

Schwabe, A.D.; Bennett, L.R. & Bowman, L.P. (1964). Octanoic acid absorption and oxidation

Skjevdal, T. (1979). Flavour of goat's milk: a review of studies on the sources of its

Tantibhedhyanangkul, P. & Hashim, S.A. (1978). Medium-chain triglyceride feeding in premature infants: effects on calcium and magnesium absorption. *Pediatrics*, 61, 537–545 Zeng, S.S. & Escobar, E.N. (1996). Effect of breed and milking method on somatic cell count, standard plate count and composition of goat milk. *Small Ruminant Research*, 19, 169-175 Zeng, S.S.; Escobar, E.N. & Pophan, T. (1997). Daily variation in somatic cell count, composition and production of Alpine goat milk. *Small Ruminant Research*, 26, 253-260 Žan, M.; Stibilj, V. & Rogelj, I. (2005). Milk fatty acid composition of goats grazing on alpine

Williams, C. M. (2000). Dietary fatty acids and human health. *Annales de Zootechnie*, 49,165–180 Wilson, D.J.; Stewart, K.N. & Sears, P.M. (1995). Effects of stage of lactation, production, parity and season on somatic-cell counts in infected and uninfected dairy goats. *Small* 

milk fat synthesis in lactating goats. *Journal of Dairy Science*, 91, 9, 3291-3299

Modern breeds of dairy animals are able to produce huge amount of milk. In attempt to consume, digest and metabolize enough nutrients to satisfy lactation needs, those animals are exposed to serious stress conditions that can affect their health. Health problems which arise from those conditions are mainly related to impaired ability to metabolize enough nutrients to compensate for those lost in milk. They are known as metabolic or production diseases and may be of great economic importance in milk production systems.

Although metabolic diseases have become a common problem on dairy farms, they still require a serious attention to be controlled. The incidences of these disorders can be reduced by proper nutrition of animals. Also, some of the specific strategies in feeding practice offer additional advantages in prevention of nutrition-related metabolic diseases.
