Effects of the frequency of milking and lactation stage on milk fractions and milk composition in Tinerfeña dairy goats

Abstract

Machine milk (MM), machine stripping milk (MSM), residual milk (RM), and milk protein and fat content were recorded during the second lactation in 49 Tinerfeña goats milked once (X1) and twice (X2) a day. MM, MSM and RM percentages were 67.7% and 62.4%, 20.2% and 30.2%, 12.1% and 7.4% in X1 and X2, respectively. Milking frequency statistically affected MSM, RM and fat content, but increasing milking frequency from once to twice a day did not improve milkability nor did it significantly affect milk yields.