MILK OFFTAKE IN WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS DURING EARLY LACTATION

Résumé

A study of milk offtake in West African Dwarf goats was carried out using four lactating does in their first and second parities. Daily mean milk offtake value was low (14.576±1.16ml). it was observed that parity (P˂0.05) and day of lactation (P>0.001) had significant effect on milk offtake. Does in their first parities had more milk offtake (9.904ml) than does in their second parities (3.498ml). Daily milk offtake was found to increase with day of lactation and it reached its peak on the 8th day (36ml) and then declined drastically to 5ml on the 9th day remaining fairly constant till the 28th day. Does with single kids have more milk offtake (7.733ml) than does with twins (5.66ml) but the difference was not significant (P>0.005). It was concluded that parity and day of lactation significantly influenced milk offtake while litter size did not have any significant effect on milk offtake.