The Combined Effects of Haemoglobin, Potassium Types and Coat Colour on Milk Yield Characteristics in Goats
I. M. Sam *
Department of Animal Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam, Nigeria
U. A. Ukpanah
Department of Animal Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam, Nigeria
J. S. Ekpo
Department of Animal Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam, Nigeria
G. D. Eyo
Department of Animal Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of interaction between haemoglobin type, potassium type and coat colour on milk yield characteristics in goat. A total of 250 agropastoral goats were studied for milk yield characteristics which included average daily yield (ADY), total yield (TY), initial yield (IY), peak yield (PY) and lactation length (LL). Blood biochemical polymorphism (haemoglobin type and potassium type), as well as coat colour of agropastoral goats, were evaluated. The combined effects of haemoglobin type, potassium type as well as coat colour on milk yield characteristics were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Animals with combination of haemoglobin AA, high potassium (HK) with brown/white coat colour (AAHKBW) were significantly (p < 0.05) superior in most of the milk yield characteristics, while those with combination of HbAA, high potassium (HK) and white coat colours (AAHKW) were significantly (p < 0.05) superior to other combinations in body weight. The results of this study suggest that combination of haemoglobin type, potassium type and coat colour could be used as indirect selection criteria for milk yield and body weight in goats.
Keywords: Haemoglobin type, potassium types’ coat colour, milk yield, agropastoral goats