Factors affecting daily milk yield and composition during suckling in mountain goats

S Kaskous, S Jawad¹ and A Fadlelmoula^2,3

Dept. Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, P.O.Box: 34749, Syria and Expert at the Siliconform Company, Schelmengriesstrasse 1, 86842 Türkheim, Germany
shehadeh.kaskous@yahoo.de
¹ Oura Research Station for Mountain Goat, the Center of the Scientific Agricultural Research in Swida, Wealth Research Administration, Syria
² University of Jeddah, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Al-Kamel, P.O.Box:110, Al-Kamel-KSA
aasalem2@uj.edu.sa
³ Dept. Genetics and Animal breeding, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, P.O.Box: 32, 13314 Khartoum, Sudan
abdelazizfadlelmoula@gmail.com

Abstract

The study was conducted at the Syrian Swida governate (Oura research station) to investigate the effects of litter size, parity number and sampling day on daily milk yield and composition in mountain goats. 18 goats in their 1^st to 3^rd lactations were randomly selected for the study; selection was done at trimester period of pregnancy. Daily milk yield was estimated according to lamb-suckling method two times daily each 12 hours and every three days starting from day 15^th after parturition to weaning at day 60^th. Milk samples were taken to determine milk components; fat, protein, lactose, minerals, solids not fat and density as well as daily milk yield. Collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using SAS-package.

Daily milk yield was increased by litter size and parity number but milk components showed no such trends.

Keywords: litter size, parity number, sampling day, Swida governate

Introduction

Mountain goats are considered to be one of  the important milk producing genetic resources in Syria, with annual milk production estimated to be 86523 tonnes, female mountain goat is 979,957 head (Statistical group 2010). Milk production of mountain goat increased in some Syrian research stations specially devoted for its management, the average lactation production per head was estimated to be 186 ± 5.16 kg in a period of 210 ± 5.80 days and the average daily yield was 890 ± 50 g that was recorded in Oura research station (Kaskous et al 2012). Some factors found to affect the amount and composition of milk goat included stage of lactation (Gueler et al 2007, Bernacka 2006), strain or breed (Voutsinas et al 1990, Kuehnemann 2000 and Kolb and Kaskous 2003), season of lactation (Mavrogenis et al 2006 and Carnicella et al 2008), litter size (Keskin and Bicer 2002, Fatal 2008 and Semsemia 2010).

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of litter size, parity number and sampling day on daily milk yield and composition of mountain goat during suckling period.

Materials and Methods

Study location

The study was conducted at Syrian Swida governate (Oura research station). The area extends between latitude 36⁰ N to 37⁰ N and it is elevated 1820 m above sea level, with annual rainfall range between 350-500 mm.

Animals

For the purpose of the study, 18 mountain goats in the 1^st -3^rd lactation were randomly selected from a base stock; 6 animals were selected for each season, obtained births were 6, 9 and 12 in the first, second and third lactation respectively.

Animals Management

During the study period does were offered the required feed for maintenance and production calculated on bases of daily milk yield. However, the kids were allowed to suckle their mothers throughout the suckling period, which extended to 60 days except the periods of daily milk estimation. Animals were loose housed in open barn and stayed healthy throughout the study period.

Estimation of daily milk yield

Estimation of daily milk yield was based on the method of kids suckling (the difference in kid weight in the period before and after suckling); estimation was done two times daily, at twelve hours interval every three days starting the 15^th day after birth until weaning at day 60^th.

Milk sampling and determination of its components

Sampling was done in the same period of daily yield estimation for each kid in amount of 50ml/kid. Main milk components (fat, protein, lactose, minerals, solid not fat ‘SNF’ and density) were determined using a field milk analyzer (LactiCheck Analyser®).

Statistical analysis

Data collected were analyzed using SAS-package (SAS 1999) in accordance with the following fixed effect multiple regression model:

Y_ijkl=µ+L_i+T_j+S_k+e_ijkl

Where,

Y_ijkl= ijkl^th observation (daily milk yield, fat, protein, lactose, minerals, SNF and density).

µ= Over all mean

Li=fixed effect of the i^th lactation number (i=1,2 and 3).

Tj= fixed effect of the j^th litter size (j= 1 and 2 i.e. single and twin).

Sk= fixed effect of the k^th sampling day (k=15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, and 57).

eijkl= residual effect.

Least square means (LSM) and standard error (SE) were obtained and Bonferroni test was used as means comparison test to estimate the means that were different.

Results

Mean milk yield   

The  mean morning and evening daily yields were similar (0.45±0.01 and 0.43±0.01 kg respectively). The composition is shown in Table 1.

Effect of litter size on daily milk yield and composition

Dams with single births had lower milk yield compared to twin birth giving dams. Protein percentage was higher in the milk of the single than twin birth giving goats (Table 2).

Effect of parity number on daily milk yield and composition

Daily milk yield increasedwith parity (Table 3), but the components of the milk were not affected by parity.

Effect of sampling day on daily milk yield and composition

Mean daily milk yield and composition differed with respect to sampling day (Table 4). Milk yield was found to increase gradually from day 15 to day 54 after delivery before starting to decrease thereafter; milk components on the other hand showed no consist pattern throughout the period of the study.

Discussion

In most territories of Syria the predominant management of mountain goat is to leave the  kids to suck from birth to weaning at day 60 then does will be hand milked two times daily to the end of their lactation period. Mountain goats possess good genetic potentials; they are involved in the provision of around 7% of total milk production in Syria, although the actual efficiency of production is still not discovered due to practicing of traditional management and nutrition.

The higher daily milk yielded by does producing twins compared to single kids producing is in close agreement with the result of Ferson et al (1991) for Tenerife goat breed, where 12% of the variation in milk yield was due to litter size. Other studies showed the effect of litter size on goat milk production; Goonewardenea et al (1999) for Nubian goat, Hayden et al (1979) for British Sannen. However, different results were reported by Fatal (2008) in Syria, Yassin (1997) in Yemen for Shami goat, Gootwine et al (1995) and Williams (1993) for British goat. The increase in daily milk yield in twin producing goats could be attributed to the improvement in the udder and increase in its size during the trimester of pregnancy due to increase in hormonal activities (placenta lactogen) with the increase in the size of the placenta in twin producing goat compared with the single producing ones. Semsemia (2010) found variations in total solids content in milk of triple kids producing goat which was 0.14±0.07% lower compared to single kids producing goat. Milerski and Mares (2001) stated that the fat and protein contents were lower in goats having three and four kids compared to those having twins or single kids. Raats et al (1983) showed a significantly higher daily milk yield produced during the first 12 weeks in does with twin kids than does with single kids; however, the milk components were not different. These results could be explained in connection with the mechanism of milk synthesis and storage in udder alveoli and cistern, as with the increase of milk yield in the udder the components will be lowered, hence the lower protein content.

The effect of parity number on daily milk yield agrees with the result of Shaker (1984) for Shami goat in Syria and Canicella et al (2008) for Maltese goat in Italy. On the other hand, Abdel-Raheem (1998) found no significant differences in daily milk yield with respect to parities in Nubian goat in Egypt. Milk components showed no variations across parities, which agrees with similar studies (Zahraddeen et al 2007, Olechnowicz and Sobek 2008). However, but the protein content changed significantly through parity number according to Fernandz et al (2008).

 Similar results for effects of sampling day on daily milk yield and composition during suckling period were obtained for Shami and German goat in Turkey (Gueler et al 2007), Nubian goat in Egypt (Mouraad 1992), Dairy goat in Britian (Lu 1989), Ceshkian goat in Cezck (Ciappesoni et al 2004), Cubban goat in Cuba (Argullo et al 2006) and Ceprus goat in Cyprus (Hadjipanayiotou 1995). The variations in daily milk yield and composition is considered to be noraml in ruminant animals, as milk yield increase gradually after birth to reach the peak in the 2nd or 3rd month then starts to decline to the end of lactation.

Conclusions

• Daily milk yield in Mountain goats was increased by litter size and parity number but milk components showed no such trends.

References

Abdel-Raheem A A 1998 Genetic studies on Zaraiby goats. Ph D Thesis, Fac. Agric., Ain Shams Univ. Cairo, Egypt.

Agricultural statistical group 2010 Department of agricultural economic-Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian reform, Syria.

Alkhouri F 1998 Milk production in goat. The Arab center for studies of arid zones and dry lands (Aksaad).TH-N 211.

Arguello A, Castro N and Capote J 2006 Effect of the number of lactation and litter size on chemical and physical characteristic of goat colostrums. Small Ruminant Research 64:53-59.

Bernacka H 2006 Cytological quality of goat milk on the basis of the somatic cell count. Journal of Central European Agriculture 7(4):773-778. http://jcea.agr.hr/articles/456_CYTOLOGICAL_QUALITY_OF_GOAT_MILK_ON_THE_BASIS_OF_THE_SOMATIC_CELL_COUNT_en.pdf.

Carnicella D, Dario M, Ayres M C, Laudadio V and Dario C 2008 The effect of diet, parity, year and number of kids on milk yield and milk composition in Maltese goat. Small Ruminant Research 77:71-74.

Ciappesoni G, Priby I J, Milerski M and Mares V 2004 Factors affecting goat milk yield and its composition. Czech Journal of Animal Science 49:465-473. http://www.agriculturejournals.cz/publicFiles/53274.pdf

Fatal K 2008 The use of statistical models in genetic evaluation of Shami goat. PhD thesis-Faculty of agriculture- Aleppo University, Syria.

Fernandez M, Castillo-juarez H, Gonzalez-Montana J R, Fernandz F J, Castaneda Vazquez H and Saltijeral-Oxaca J A 2008 Somatic cell count and quality of goat milk produced in the central region of Mexico. Research Journal of Dairy Science 2:45-50.

Ferson M, Rodero J M, Serrano I, Delgado J V, Capote J and Rodero A 1991 Development of milk production in the Tenerife goat population in relationship to environmental factors. Advancement Alimentation Major Animal 31:256-267.

Goonewardenea L A, Okinea  E, Patrickb N and Scheerl H D 1999 The relationship between multiple births and milk yields in non suckled intensively managed dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research 32:181-185.

Gootwine E, Braw-Tal B A and Zenou A 1995 Reproductive performance and milk production of the improved Awassi breed as compared with its crosses with the Booroola Merino. Animal Science 60:109-115.

Gueler Z, keskin M, Masatcioglu T, Guel S and Bicer O 2007 Effects of breed and lactation period on some characteristics and free fatty acid composition of raw milk from Damascus goats and German fawn Mohair goat B1 crossbreds. Turkey Journal of Veterinary Animal Science 31(5):347-354. http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/veterinary/issues/vet-07-31-5/vet-31-5-10-0608-32.pdf

 Hadjipanayiotou M 1995 Composition of ewe, goat and cow milk of colostrums of ewes and goats. Small Ruminant Research 18:255-262.

Hayden T J, Thomas C R and Isabel A 1979 Effect of number of young born on milk yield of goats. Journal of Dairy Science 62:53-57.

Kaskous S, Sharaf J, Al-Houarin A and Al-Mhithawi R 2012 The weight of kids and the lactation performance in the mountain goats with and without milking during the suckling period . Damascus  Universitz Journal for Agricultural Sciences 28 (2):289-300

Keskin M and Bicer O 2002 Effects of milk replacer on kid growth and farm profitability in the Shami goat. Turkey Journal of Veterinary Animal Science 26:1133-1136.

Kolb, E. and Kaskous, S. 2003 Constituents of the colostrums and the milk of goats and their significance for the health of kids. Tieraerztliche Umschau 58:140-146. 

Kuehnemann H 2000 Ziegen Wichtige Rassen Artgerechte Haltung Gesundheitsvorsorge. Stuttgart (Hohenheim), Ulmer.

Lu C D 1989 Energy and protein nutrition in lactating dairy goats. In Proceedings of 24^th Pacific Northwest animal nutrition conference, Boise, Idaho 133-142.

Mavrogenis A P, Antoniades N Y and Hooper R W 2006 The Damascus (Shami) goat of Cyprus. Animal genetic Resources Information 38:57-65. http://www.fao.org/3/a-a0540t/a0540t05.pdf.

Milerski M and Mares V 2001 Analysis of systematic factors affecting milk production in dairy goat. Acta University Agriculture. Silvic. Mendel. Brun 1:43-50.

Mouraad M 1992 Effect of month of kidding, parity and litter size on milk yield of Alpine goat in Egypt. Small Ruminant Research 8: 41-46.

Olechnowicz J and Sobek J M 2008 Factors of variation influencing production level, SCC and basic milk composition in dairy goats. Journal of Animal and Feed Science 17:41-49.

Raats J K, Wilk P L and Du Toit J E J 1983 Effect of age and litter size on milk production in Boer Goat. South African Journal of Animal Science 13:240-243. http://www.sasas.co.za/sites/sasas.co.za/files/Raats13Issue4_0.PDF.

SAS 1999 Users Guide, Version 8.0, Cary, North Carolina, Ed, SAS Institute Inc.

Semsemia R 2010 Effect of some factors on somatic cell and composition of milk in Shami goat, MSc thesis, Faculty of agriculture, Damascus University, Syria.

Shaker B 1984 Milk production in Shami goat. Ministry of agricultre, Syria.

Voutsinas L P, Pappas C and Katsiari M C 1990 The composition of Alpine goat milk during lactation in Greece. Journal of Dairy Research 57:41-51.

Williams J C 1993 Influence of farm, parity, season and litter size on the lactation curve parameters of White British dairy goats. Animal Production 57:99-104.

Yassin W A 1997 Study of the effect of crossing on the performance of some Yemeni goat breed. M.Sc. Thesis, Fac. Agric., Ain Shams Univ. Cairo, Egypt.

Zahraddeen D, Butswat I S R and Mbap S T 2007 Evaluation of some factors affecting milk composition of indigenous goats in Nigeria. Livestock Research for Rural Development 19:166-171. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd19/11/zahr19166.htm.

Received 16 April 2015; Accepted 20 April 2015; Published 3 June 2015

Go to top