EFFECT OF BREED ON BODY WEIGHT AND MILK QUALITIES OF SOKOTO GUDALI AND WHITE FULANI COWS IN NIGERIA

Résumé

This study aimed at determining the genetic variations in body weight, milk composition as well as milk efficiency traits of Sokoto Gudali (SG) and White Fulani (WF) cows in National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) Shika, Zaria. Body weight, total milk yield, lactation length, average daily milk yield and other milk composition were analyzed using students t-test and the means was expressed as mean± standard error (SE). The highest dry matter (11.00%), oil (6.95%) and ash (6.95%) of the raw cow milk were observed in Sokoto Gudali. Crude protein and nitrogen free extract was highest in the milk of White Fulani cows. Total milk yield, bodyweight, lactation length and ash contents of the raw milk differs significantly (p<0.05) between the breeds while all the other traits (calcium, phosphorus, lactose, fat, protein, pH, ADY, fat corrected milk yield kilogram metabolic weight, and fat corrected milk yield per day per kilogram metabolic weight, net energy efficiency and dairy merit) were statistically similar. In conclusion, there exist a considerable genetic variation between White Fulani and Sokoto Gudali for milk yield, milk composition and efficiency traits.