ABSTRACT

Six Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf does, raised intensively in a University livestock farm, were evaluated for milk yield and milk composition in a ten - week study. The animals in their first parity were fed cut-and-carry forages in a cafeteria arrangement between 0700-0800hrs daily and also were allowed access to concentrate supplementation by 1400 hrs in the afternoon. The forage consisted of a sward of Panicum maximum, Centrosema pubescens, Calapogonium mucunoides and others while the supplement was a 14.8% CP concentrate ration formulated from wheat, soya bean meal, maize offals, palm kernel cake etc. Drinking water was provided ad libitum. The does were hand milked daily from 6 — 8 am and yield determined for each group. Milk samples were bulked per animal per week and analysed for total solids (TS), butterfat (BF), crude protein (CP), solids-not-fat (SNF) and total ash. Lactose was however determined daily from fresh milk samples and data obtained was analysed using T-test. Result showed that lactose, CP and ash were not influenced (P>0.05) by species; however, butterfat, TS, SNF and milk yield differed significantly (P<0.05) between the small ruminant breeds. Red Sokoto had relatively higher BF (4.81%) in milk than WAD goat (4.72%), but TS and SNF concentrations (%) were lower in the milk of Red Sokoto (12.82, 8.22) than WAD (13.16, 8.59) goat. Milk macro minerals (Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium and Phosphorous) were also affected (P<0.05) by species. Calcium, magnesium and sodium concentrations (%) in milk were significantly higher (P<0.05) for Red Sokoto (0,15, 0.11, 0.11) than WAD (0.12, 0.09. 0.09) goat; phosphorous and potassium levels in milk were however higher (P<0.05) in WAD (0.14, 0.11) than Red Sokoto. (0.13, 0.09) goat. Performances of WAD and Red Sokoto goats were not optimal in the current investigation. Differences in yield and milk composition within and between species could be attributed to genetic make up, management and environmental factors.