The effects of the milking frequency and milk production levels on milk partitioning in Tinerfeña dairy goats

Abstract

Two milking frequencies (once daily (X1) vs twice daily (X2)) were studied throughout the second lactation of 65 Tinerfena dairy goats, recording machine milk (MM), machine stripping milk (MSM) and residual milk (RM). At the end of the lactation the animals were grouped according to their milking frequency, and assigned to a ranked production group of high, medium or low. The machine milking parameter was not affected by milking frequency although X2 machine stripping milk was always significantly higher than X1 (41.0 vs 84.0%) and the residual milk was higher in X1 (28.3 vs 48.3%). No significant differences were observed when milking partitioning percentages relating to production level groups were evaluated, and this supports the hypothesis that milkability depends on genetic factors.