Prediction of test day milk yield by AC method in indigenous Balkan goats in Macedonia

Abstract

Accurate and precise milk recording is one of the most important moments for a successful selection of milking goats. In this context, breeders are constantly making efforts to find the most suitable and cheapest methods for conducting of tests for milk production. The goal of this research was to compare the A4 method (as referent method) with AC method (as alternative method), for determination of milk production, on the day of recording of the indigenous Balkan goat, in the period of 2014-2016 with milking of goats in the morning and evening. It was determined that the difference between the predicted daily milk yield with one milking (in the morning or evening) and the measured milk yield using the A4 method is too low and almost negligible. With the analysis of all factors (year, lactation and number of milk tests), it was determined that the prediction of total daily milk yield, based on the evening milking, provides more accurate result, in relation to the prediction during morning milking, in cases when using the AC method.

Keywords

• Balkan goat
• daily lactation
• method A4
• method AC
• predicted lactation