Lactation persistency, yield and prediction models in Indian dromedary

S C MEHTA; A K SHARMA; U K BISSA; SAJJAN SINGH

doi:10.56093/ijans.v85i8.50972

Authors

S C MEHTA Principal Scientist, National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
A K SHARMA Research Associate, National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
U K BISSA Senior Scientist, National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India
SAJJAN SINGH Principal Scientist, National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334 001 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v85i8.50972

Keywords:

Camel, Milk, Peak yield, Persistency, Prediction

Abstract

The demand driven economy is leading to production and utilization of camel milk for nutritional security of the human population. Lactation records (65) of the she-camels belonging to the Bikaneri, Kachchhi and Mewari breeds were analysed. The average daily milk production from 2 teats was 2.9±0.04 litre with 2.7±0.05 litre in Bikaneri, 3.2±0.07 litre in Kachchhi and 2.6±0.08 litre in Mewari breed. The average daily production was 2.5±0.07, 2.8±0.06, 3.2±0.07 and 3.0±0.10 litres respectively in first, second, third and fourth parity. Highest individual average daily milk yield from 2 teats was 8.06 litre. The peak yield was observed in fifth month of lactation. The average lactation yield from 4 teats was estimated to be 1,883±75, 2,239±88, 2,520±100 and 3,017±148 litre for the lactation length of 10, 12, 14 and 16 months, respectively. Two breeding and milking models were compared. Eleven mathematical functions were fitted for the prediction lactation yield and it was observed that for the sake of simplicity, the linear equation can be utilized for the purpose. The fifth month’s average daily yield gave the best predictions. Therefore, the mathematical equation Y=106.727+ 238.597(Y5m) can be utilized for prediction of 10 months’ lactation yield and respective equations for the lactation yields of 12, 14 and 16 months’ lactation. The persistency of lactation was 76.20, 67.07, 55.67 and 35.87% when calculated for lactation length of 10, 12, 14 and 16 months, respectively. The present observations and analyses indicated tremendous scope in dromedary to fulfill the human aspirations which may lead to its sustenance too.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahmad S, Yaqoob M, Bilal M Q, Khan M K, Muhammad G, Yang L G and Tariq M. 2012. Factors affecting yield and composition of camel milk kept under desert conditions of central Punjab, Pakistan. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44:1403– 10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0079-3

Al haj O A and Al Kanhal H A. 2010. Compositional, technological and nutritional aspects of dromedary camel milk. International Dairy Journal 20 : 811–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idairyj.2010.04.003

Almutairi S E, Boujenane I, Musaad A and Awad-Acharari F. 2010. Genetic and non-genetic effects for milk yield and growth traits in Saudi camels. Tropical Animal Health and Production 42: 1845–53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9647-6

Cobuci J A, Euclydes R F, Pereira C S, Torres R de A, Costa C N and Lopes P S. 2003. Persistency in lactation –a review. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Production Animal 11: 163– 73.

Faye B and Konuspayeva G. 2012. The sustainability challenge to the dairy sector – The growing importance of non-cattle milk production worldwide. International Dairy Journal 24: 50–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idairyj.2011.12.011

Kadim I T, Mahgoub O and Purcha R W. 2008. A review of the growth, and of the carcass and meat quality characteristics of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). Meat Science 80: 555–69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2008.02.010

Livestock Census 2012. 19th Livestock Census, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.

Mehta S C, Bhardwaj B and Sahani M S. 2007. Status and conservation of Mewari and Jaisalmeri camels in India. Animal Genetic Resources Information 40 : 87–101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1014233900002236

Mehta S C, Pathak K M L, Bhardwaj B, Arora S and Bhatnagar C S. 2009. Camel Dairying : An Indian Perspective. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 79: 454–56.

Mehta S C, Bissa U K, Patil N V and Pathak K M L. 2011. Importance of camel milk and production potential of dromedary breeds. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 81: 1173–77.

Mehta S C, Bissa U K, Chirania B L and Patil N V. 2012. Mortality analysis and herd growth in Indian dromedary breeds. Journal of Camel Practice and Research 19: 37–44.

Mehta S C. 2014. Genetic and demographic bottleneck analysis of Indian camel breeds by microsatellite markers. Tropical Animal Health and Production 46: 1397–406. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0653-y

Musaad A, Faye B and Nikhela A A. 2013. Lactation curves of dairy camels in an intensive system. Tropical Animal Health and Production 45:1039–46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0331-x

Nagy P, Skidmore J A and Juhasz J. 2013. Use of assisted reproduction for the improvement of milk production in dairy camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animal Reproduction Science 136: 205–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2012.10.011

Njanja J C and Oba G. 2010. The Turkana camel breed in northwestern Kenya : lactation characteristics. Outlook on Agriculture 39: 49–55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5367/000000010791170013

Omidfar K and Shirvani Z. 2012. Single domain antibodies : a new concept for epidermal growth factor receptor and EGFRvIII targeting. DNA Cell Biology 31: 1015–26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/dna.2011.1529

Sahani M S, Rathinasabapathy M, Gorakhmal and Khanna N D. 1998. Milking technique and other factors affecting milk production potential in different breeds of camel under farm conditions. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 68: 254–56.

Skidmore J A. 2011. Reproductive physiology in female Old World Camelids. Animal Reproduction Science 124: 148–54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.08.023

SPSS Statistics Base 17.0. 2008. User’s Guide. SPSS Inc.,Chicago.

Wernery U, Juhasz J and Nagy P. 2004. Milk yield performance of dromedaries with an automatic bucket milking machine. Journal of Camel Research and Practice 11: 51–57.