The effect of suckling intervals on lactation milk yield and length of lactation of Sudan Nubian goats

Abstract

40 mature Nubian goats were selected and divided on a weight and age basis into 
four groups of 10 does each. The four groups were allocated at random to one of the 
following treatments:  
1) Group A were suckled their kids for 6 weeks 
2) Group B for 8 weeks 
3) Group C for 10 weeks 
4) Group D for 12 weeks 
Lactation length of milk and milk production were determined for each animal. 
The mean daily milk yield was 1.58, 1.21, 1.21 and 1.09 Kg for group A, B, C and 
D, respectively. 
The mean maximum yield per day was 2.99, 2.19, 2.12 and 2.19 Kg for group A, B, C and 
D, respectively, reached during the period between 12 – 33, 10 – 34, 9 – 107 and 8 – 72 
days of lactation, respectively. The total milk yield per lactation of the four experimental 
groups was 240.79, 179.63, 196.59 and 181.01 Kg for group A, B, C and D, respectively. 
The analysis revealed high significant (P<0.01) difference among the total yields per 
lactation in the four groups. 
The mean lengths of lactations were 152, 148, 162 and 166 days for group A, B, C 
and D, respectively. The length of lactation tends to increase as suckling extend. Statistical 
analysis of the data showed no significant (P> 0.05) difference among the four groups.