Study on milk yield and composition in Mehsana goat

Abstract

Present study was carried out on 417 monthly milk records to evaluate milk production performance and colostrums and milk  composition  in  Mehsana  goat  maintained  at  Sheep  and  Goat  Research  Station  of  Sardarkrushinagar Agricultural University, Gujarat, during the year 2007-08. The total lactation milk yield in Mehsana goat was 76.35 ± 1.67 kg. The highest monthly milk yield was observed in the month of August (16.69 ± 1.74 kg) and lowest in December (8.16 ± 1.14 kg).The overall means ± SE for fat, SNF and protein in colostrum were 5.74 ± 0.41, 12.72 ± 0.59 and 5.09 ± 0.41 percent, respectively. The corresponding estimates in milk were 3.23 ± 0.07, 8.07 ± 0.04 and 3.15 ± 0.02 percent, respectively.  High SNF percent in milk was found during early and late stages of lactation, while high fat content was observed during summer months.