Age-Season Adjustment Factors for Milk and Fat of Dairy Goats

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Abstract
Milk and fat yield records on 3481 lactations were obtained from a cooperating dairy goat herd in California [USA] to examine correction factors for age and season for milking does. Breeds were Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Saanen and Toggenberg. Saanens had the highest average yield for all lactations for milk and fat, 977 and 34 kg. Nubians had the lowest yields but the highest percentage of fat, 3.8%. Milk and fat yield were influenced by age, month and year of freshening of doe. The interaction of age of doe by breed was not an important source of variation for either trait, indicating one set of adjustment factors could suffice for all breeds. The highest milk and fat yield occurred in does .gtoreq. 40 mo. of age freshening in Jan. and Feb.