Concentration of Trace Elements in Milk of West African Dwarf Goats Affected by State of Lactation

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Abstract
Adult West African dwarf (10) (Fouta djallon) does about 2 yr old and weighing from 22-28 kg were kept for 2 lactations with 18 wk per lactation. During these periods the does were handmilked 2 .times. daily and the daily samples were bulked for each animal for subsequent chemical analysis. Each goat was fed Cynodon nlemfuensis ad lib and 1 kg of dairy concentrate mixture daily. Colostrum contained (mg/l) much higher Fe, 2.46 .+-. 0.27; Cu, 3.14 .+-. 0.12; Mn, 0.20 .+-. 0.03; Zn, 14.11 .+-. 0.45; and I, 319.69 .+-. 14.13 mg/l than the corresponding values in mature milk which were 0.43 .+-. 0.12, 0.28 .+-. 0.20, 0.5 .+-. 0.04, 4.01 .+-. 0.51 and 108.52 .+-. 28.25. The elements in the colostrum approached normal values between the 5th and 6th day after parturition. The concentration decreased with advance in lactation except for Zn.