VARIATION IN YIELD AND COMPOSTION OF MILK FROM DIFFERENT UDDER QUARTERS OF LACTATING WHITE FULANI CATTLE IN A TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

For the first 150 days of lactation, 12 White Fulani early dry season calvers produced a daily average of 2.5kg milk containing 12.6% total solids, 3.8% fat, 8.9% solids-not-fat, 4.2% protein, 4.0% lactose and 0.7% total ash. Poor nutrition, inbreeding, age and weight of animals appeared to be largely responsible for the low yield. Substantially more milk (P< 0.01) was produced in the morning (62.4%) than evening and from the rear (56%) than fore udders. Both the evening and rear udder milk were remarkablyricher in total solids, fat and solids- not-fat. Evening and fore udder milk contained significantly less lactose but more protein (P< 0.01). The udder position x time of milking interactions on milk yield and composition were highly significant (P 0.01) but the effects of year were negligible (P 0.05). The stage of lactation influenced fat, protein and total ash content very significantly (P 0.01). Peak milk produc tion occurred during the second month of lactation.