Concentration of Trace Elements in Milk of West African Dwarf Goats Affected by State of Lactation

Ten adult West African dwarf (Fouta d]allon) does about 2 yr old and weighing from 22 to 28 kg were kept for two lactations with 18 wk per lactation.During these periods the does were handmilked twice daily, and the daily samples were bulked for each animal for subsequent chemical analysis.Each goat was fed Cynodon nlemfuensis ad libitum and 1 kg of dairy concentrate mixture daily.Colostrum contained (mg/liter) much higher iron, 2.46 -+ .27;copper, 3.14 -+ .12;manganese, .20 + .03;zinc, 14.11 + .45;and iodine, 319.69 -+ 14.13 rag/liter than the corresponding values in mature milk which were .43+ .12;.28-+ .20;.5 +-.04; 4.01 + .51,and 108.52 -+ 28.25.These elements in the colostrum approached normal values between the 5th and 6th day after parturition.The concentration decreased with advance in lactation except for zinc.