Yield And Composition Of Milk Of Goats Reared In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture Farm And In A Village Environment

ABSTRACT

A total of six lactating does of the West Africa Dwarf breed (\VAD) were reared in the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture farm (A) and in tile village around the University campus (B) for a period of 28 days. The 3 animals in the University farm grazed pastures consisting mainly of Guinea grass (Panicking mailman,) while the 3 in the village grazed available forage and house wastes. The two groups of lactating does were fed daily with supplementary concentrate (CP 14.15%). The animals were hand milked daily from 6.00 am to 8.00 am. Milk samples were analyzed for total solids (TS), butter fat (BF), crude protein (CP), solids — not -fat ( SNF), lactose, total ash, gross energy (GE) as well as fat-corrected milk (FCM). The results showed that milk constituents of goats in group A were higher in concentration than those of milk from group B animals except lactose, SNF, protein and ash contents. The fat- corrected milk values were 137.4 ± 14.51 and 1013 ± 18.80g for A and B respectively. The difference between the two means was very highly significant (p < 0.00 1). The butter fat (4.84 ± 0.80; 3.76 ± 0.38%) and tile energy contents (1.84 ± 0.35; 1.41 ± 0.4lMJ/kg) of both milk samples were significantly different (p<0.O0l). The group A animals had higher butter-fat and energy contents. The mean butter-fat for both groups was 4.30%. Tile protein, solids- not — fat, lactose and ash contents f the milk of i,c.th groups of lactating does were similar (p > 0.05). The protein constituents of the milks were 4.25 ± 0.32 and 4.37 ± 0.50% for A and B respectively. The mean values for lactose were 4.57 ± 0.34% and 4.34 ± 0.60% respectively for A and B. High positive and significant correlation existed between BF and TS ( r = 0.82; p< 0.001); energy and BF (r = 0.84; p< 0.oOl);energy and total solids (r = 0.99; p< 0.001); energy and total solids ( r = 0.84; p < 0.001) in group A animals