Studies on milk yield and composition of the West African dwarf goat in Nigeria

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Abstract
Summary: Six adult West African dwarf does, about 2½ years old and weighing from 24 to 29 kg, were kept for 18 weeks/lactation, and for 2 lactation periods in all. During these periods the does were hand-milked twice daily and the daily samples were bulked for each animal for subsequent analysis. Milk yields for the period were low. Colostrum was characterized by a high content of total solids of 19·2%, fat 8·3%, total protein 5·1% and a gross energy of 517 kJ/100 g milk, but a low lactose content of 4·9%. The composition tended to approach that of mature goat milk between the second and third d after parturition. The mature goat's milk contained higher mean percentages of fat (6·9) and lactose (6·3) than any temperate breeds of goats and indigenous dairy cattle, but their protein (3·9%) and total ash (0·8%) contents were comparable with any temperate breeds of goats. The percentage protein, lactose, fat and total solids declined slightly with advance in lactation and there was a steady fall in milk yield which was statistically significant (P< 0·01).