Authors : S.A. Mohammed , A.H. Sulieman , M.E. Mohammed and F. Sir. E. Siddig
Abstract: A foundation flock of 125 young Sudanese Nubian female goats, 6-8 months old, together with five mature males, were used as experimental animals in this study. Relevant performance data on 137resultant progeny female goats were also added to those of the original flock, at a later stage of the study, for an overall and comparative evaluation of this goat. An overall average milk yield of 155±5.10 kg was obtained for an average lactation period of 173±7.20 days. An average lactation peak of 1.4± 0.20 kg milk day 1 was noted after 4 weeks. Age of dam, season and type of birth of kid had significant effects on total milk yield with older does (p< 0.05), dry Summer (p< 0.001) and does with triplets (p< 0.05) having the greatest yield of lactational milk within their contrasting groups. While lactational period was similarly influenced by the aforementioned effects the mean daily milk yield was significantly greater (p< 0.001) only for the dry summer effect compared with that obtained for either wet summer or winter. On the other hand the mean values obtained for peak daily yield were significantly greater (p< 0.05) for does in the oldest age group and also for does performing in the dry summer (p< 0.01) compared with their relevant contrasts. Otherwise the time taken to peak daily milk yield was invariably non-significantly influenced by either of the factors studied. The weekly aggregates of lactational milk yield were significantly (p< 0.05) influenced by parity and dry summer. Likewise these aggregates have been increasing periodically to significantly (p< 0.05) peak at the 4th week and subsequently dropped to the end of lactation. A heritability estimate of 0.56 was obtained for the milk yield of these goats for the period measured. The mean values for colostrum contents tested dropped significantly (p< 0.05) for total solids; solids not fat, protein and fat, but tended non-significantly to be lower for ash from the first to the third post-kidding day. The overall average values of the normal milk samples for total solids, protein and fat were 13.7� 0.02, 4.4� 0.007and 4.6� 0.018%, respectively. These values being significantly (p< 0.05) greater for total solids and fat in dry summer in comparison with those obtained in the wet summer and winter. On the other hand while there was a consistent and significant (p< 0.05) increase in percentage fat the values of percentage protein and total solids showed significant, but irregular trends.
S.A. Mohammed , A.H. Sulieman , M.E. Mohammed and F. Sir. E. Siddig , 2007. A Study on the Milk Yield and Compositional Characteristics in the Sudanese Nubian Goat under Farm Conditions . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 328-334.