Milk yield, udder, and growth traits of Hair goats and their crossbreeds managed under extensive conditions

Abstract

This study was carried out to compare some production traits of Alpine × Hair-crossbred, Saanen × Haircrossbred, and Hair goats in rural conditions. In the first year of the study, a total of 45 animals were used to determine the milk yield characteristics of the three  genotypes. In the second year, a total of 56 does and 62 goat kids were used to determine the characteristics of the animals. The ICAR AT  method was used to calculate the lactation milk yield of the goats. The average lactation lengths, the average lactation milk yields, and  the daily average milk yields of Alpine × Hair-crossbred, Saanen × Hair-crossbred, and Hair goats were 242, 232, and 229 days; 182, 201,  and 164 kg; and 0.754, 0.873, and 0.716 kg, respectively. The effect of genotype on lactation milk yield and daily average milk yield was  statistically significant. Live weights of the kids were recorded at monthly intervals and live weights of the kids for days 30, 60, 90, and 120  were calculated by linear interpolation. The effect of genotype on the 90- and 120-day weights were similar. Measurements of udder  characteristics were determined twice, at the beginning (30 d) and at the end (180 d) of the lactation period. It was determined that  crossbreeding had no effect on udder characteristics except the distance between teats and udder depth. The main result of this study is  that crossbreeding substantially increased milk yield in goats, even at the F1 level, under extensive conditions.