EFFECT OF MILKING FREQUENCY AND LACTATION LENGTH ON YIELD AND MILK COMPOSITION IN GOATS

EFFECT OF MILKING FREQUENCY AND LACTATION LENGTH ON YIELD AND MILK COMPOSITION IN GOATS

N. ASSAN

The level of individual milk output per dam is a crucial element
in the economic survival of any dairy enterprise. A profitable goat
dairy enterprise should aim at maximazation of milk output per
dam or optimizing the overall milk output from the flock. The
present discussion explores the potential use of milking frequency as
a management tool available for goat dairy farmers in manipulation
of milk yield per dam and its implication for mammary functioning
and its influence in enhancing metabolic activities in milk secrection.
The influence of lactation length on yield and milk composition is
also discussed. Lactation length and milking frequency are some of
factors which have been implicated in influencing yield and milk
composition. Different milking frequencies in different management
systems have been studied with different results observed in their
influences on yield and milk composition. There are different
adaptive responses of the mammary gland of different animal
species to extended milking frequencies and lactation length in
different systems of management. The lactation length records can
facilitate the allocation of resources such as feed supplies both for
individual doe and the flock. From the discussion milking frequency
and lactation length account for some of the variation in milk yield
and composition, therefore adjustment of dairy records for lactation
length is essential for accurate selection of dairy animals in a flock.
The feature of once daily milking is that it reduces milk yield,
depending on stage of lactation, breed and parity. However, with the
labour costs being recognized as one of the highest contributors to a
dairy enterprise daily expense, it is suffice to suggest that the cost
implications related to once daily milking can not be ignored. In goats
milked twice daily, but increasing milking frequency to three times a
day or even more often increase goat milk yield

Agricultural Advances

2014