ABSTRACT

The early lactation milk yield and composition of 9 cows consisting 3 each of Muturu,C N'dama and Whit Fulani were investigated in a 15-week study. The animals in their first parity were selected from a mixed herd managed semi-intensively in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Livestock farm. The cows grazed natural pasture consisting mainly of Panicum maximum, Calapogonium mucunoides, Cenirosema pubescence and other forages from 0900-1500hr daily. Each in-dam received in addition• 1 kg day -! of 17% CP concentrate supplement. The concentrate regimen was initiated 2 weeks pre-partum and ended 16 weeks post-partum. The animals were milked once a day (0700-0800hr) and values obtained were corrected for two-milking-a-day production. Daily milk yield was quantified and bulked weekly per animal per breed. Lactose was determined daily in milk samples while bulked samples were analysed for total Solids (TS), butterfat (BF), solids-not-fat (SNF), crude protein (CP) and ash. Simple linear regressions were used to quantify relationships between yield and milk constituents in the 3 cattle breeds. Results showed that milk yield differed (P<0.5) significantly among breeds and was 24.14, 36.52 and 66.85kg in 105 days for Muturu, N'dama and White Fulani, respectively. Total solids, SNF and ash values (%) for the respective breeds. (11.56, 8.63, 0.74; 12.87, 10.01, 0.80 and 11.46, 8.87, 0.71) also differed (P<0.5) significantly, while BF, CP and lactose contents of milk were not affected (P>0.05) by breed. Milk yield was negatively correlated to TS and BF in Muturu, N'dama and White Fulani cows (P<0.05. r = -0.13, -0.10. -0.70; -0.48, -0.89, -0.90). Significant (P<0.05) positive correlations existed between CP and SNF (r = 0.58; 0.69; 0.69) and CP and BF (r 0.73; 0.57; 0.66) while the relationship between Lactose and TS (P>0.05, 0.19; 0.41; 0.30) was non-significant in the respective breeds. Lactose and SNF (r 0.32. 0.54, 0.23), CP and TS (r =0.45, 0.56, 0.47) and BF and TS (r = 0.24, 0.09, 0.74) were also positively correlated; significance levels were however inconsistent with breeds.