Effects of milking frequency on milk yield, dry matter intake and efficiency of feed utilization in WAD goats

Effects of milking frequency on milk yield, dry intake (DMI) and effeciency of feed utilization milk production was investigated in West Dwarf (WAD) goats at Abeokuta in the zone of South Western Nigeria. Seventeen goats were fed a ration comprising (on dry basis) 50% grass (Pennisetum purpureum) 50% concentrate (17% crude protein) at 5% weight. The study involved hand milking once(at 6.00 am), twice (at 6.00am and 6.00pm) and (at 6.00 am, 2.00 pm and 10.00 pm) daily for21 and 35 days covering two periods, from June- 2004 (Trial I) and April-July 2005 (Trial II) a randomised complete block design. Kids were from their dams at day 14 and artificially. Compared to twice (2x) daily milking (322.2/day), the milk yield for once (1x) daily milking(181.5 mL/day) was significantly (p<0.001) by 43.7%. Milk yield for thrice (3x) daily (334.8 mL/day) was however, higher by3.8% compared to 2x. Twice and thrice daily were not significantly different (p>0.05). lactation progressed, day of lactation (p<0.001) affected milk yield and by 2.5 mL for each additional day of. Dry matter intake (DMI) significantly(p<0.05) increased with milking frequency. The was 6.7% higher in trial I compared to trial II. of lactation had significant effect (p<0.001) DMI increasing by 3.73 g for each additional day lactation. The DMI for 2x and 3x daily milkings however not different (p>0.05). Milking had significant effect (p<0.001) on of feed utilization for milk production. findings of this study indicate that milk yield DMI increase with milking frequency., it is concluded that twice daily milking WAD goats optimises milk yield.