Influence of milking frequency on latation characteristics of red Sokoto goats

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the consequences of milking frequency on total yield, average-daily yield, peak day, flow rate, dairy merit and persistency in Red Sokoto goats. Thirty lactating does were divided into three categories on milking frequencies, once a day, trice a day and thrice a day milking of 10 animals each. All the does were at their third lactation and were hand milked for a period of 120 days postpartum. Over the 120 days lactation period, total yield, average daily yield, peak yield, peak day, flow rate, dairy merit and persistency were 55.5±2.95 kg, 0.466±0.025 kg, 0.791±0.042 kg 33.8±4.01 d, 3.7±0.25 g/d, 10.6±0.21 % and 96.1±7.92 %. Milking frequency significantly (P<0.05) influenced total yield, average daily yield, peak yield, and milk flow rate, but not peak day, dairy merit and persisency. Milk yield characteristics increasedwith milking frequency, but at a decreasing flow rate. In Red Sokoto goats milking frequency affected milk yield characteristics but not dairy merit and persistency. The high lactation persistency of these goats was an indication of their ability to maintain milk production throughout lactation.

Animal Research International Vol. 1 (3) 2004 pp. 140-143