First lactation milk yield, composition, and some udder measurements of Honamli goats raised under extensive conditions

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine first lactation milk yield, milk freezing point depression, somatic cell counts and some udder measurements of a newly registered goat breed called Honamli in Turkey. The milk samples were taken from 39 Honamli goats. Milk yield was recorded with 30-day intervals. It was detected that first lactation milk yield, daily milk yield and lactation length were 107.1 kg, 0.563 kg, and 190.1 days, respectively. The percentages of fat, protein, lactose, total solids, freezing point depression and somatic cell counts /mL of milk were 1.4%, 4.2%, 5.2%, 11.8%, -0.607 degrees C, 74.8 and 4.5%, 7.3%, 3.8%, 15.9%, -0.587 degrees C, 1073 at the 30th and 180th lactation day, respectively. Some udder and teat measurements such as udder length, udder width, udder depth, udder circumference, teat length, teat width, the distance between teats and the distance between the floor and the teat were 10.6 cm, 14.6 cm, 18.8 cm, 46.3 cm, 5.2 cm, 2.2 cm, 15.1 cm, and 35.7 cm, respectively, at the 60th lactation day. Correlation coefficients between contents of total solids (%), fat (%), and protein (%) were statistically significantly positive at the 30th, 90th, and 150th lactation days (P<0.001). This study was the first step to define milk traits and to show preliminary differences of Honamli goats from the other native goat breeds. Findings related with milk production of this breed may be used for future breeding plans.