Journal of Veterinary Science & Technology
Open Access

Abstract

Twelve (12) matured lactating ewes weighting between 16 and 25 kg live weights were used to investigate the effect of udder stimulation, stage of lactation, and parity on milk yield in West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep in a semi intensive system of management. For udder stimulation, the animals were divided into 2; 6 animals were stimulated by massaging, cleaning and drying the udder for about 2minutes before milking and while the other 6 were not stimulated, the udder were just milked. Stage of lactation was divided into 4; early, mid, late, very late respectively with 3 weeks interval. The animals were on first and second parity. The animals were allowed to graze in an established paddock consisting of Stylosanthes hamata, Panicummaximum, Pennisetumpurpureum etc. for about 5hours and then supplemented with concentrate(17% CP at 5% body weight). Each quarter of the udder was hand milked separately once daily at 8.00 am for 12weeks. Their lambs were removed 5pm each day until after milking the following day when they were released to suckle the dam. The 15 hour milk yield was divided by 15 and multiplied by 24 to obtain the 24 hour milk yield. The milk yield obtained was recorded in mass (g) and volume (cm) respectively. The result of the study showed that udder stimulation, stage of lactation and parity significantly affected milk yield in WAD sheep.

Biography

Tolulope J. Williams has completed his Ph.D at the age of 41 years from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Nigeria. He is a Lecturer I in the Department of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He has published 6 papers in reputed journals and 7 conference proceedings. He reviews papers from 2 local journals