Milk Production From Cross-Bred Sannen Goats under Local conditions

Abstract

Majority of goats in Sri Lanka are indigenous and non descriptive types. They are reared for meat production. Goat milk is mainly consume by the people in town areas and the potential of goat milk production have never been investigated. This study reveals the basic information on goat milk production with crossbred sannen goats under local conditions. Lactation records of forty six Sannen does managed under intensive system were studied. Animals were fed with jack leaves Artocarpus heterophyllus, spplemented with 200-300 grams of concentrates. They were milked once a day in the morning. Total milk production per lactation varies from 381-2831 and length of the lactaion were 2-9 months. The average daily production of the, does were 1.781 during the peak of lactation. Persistence of milk production was considerably high. The possibility of using goats for milk production under prevailing situation is discussed.