LACTATION PERFRMANCE F MALABARI GATS AND THEIR CROSSES WITH ALPINE AND SAANEN BREEDS

Abstract

The milk yield and length of first four Iactations of Malabari goats and its crones with Alpine and Saanen were analysed. The milk yields of Malabari ranged from 61.3 kg (first lactation) to 98.0 kg (fourth lactation). In Alpine x Malabari halfbreds it ranged from 77. 1 kg (first lactation) to 107.5 kg (fourth lactation) and in Saanen x Malabari crossbreds the highest yield was in third lactation (146.1 kg) and lowest (108.4 kg) was in second lactation. Saanen x Malabari half-breds were found superior to Malabari and Alpine x Malabari half-breds in milk yields and lactation lengths. Increasing _the exotic inheritance beyond 50 per cent did not have. any benefit. Season and period of kidding had significant influence. on first lactation yield. Length and the effect of litter size was significant on first lactation yield only