Dairy Goat Milk Research Articles

Milk production, fatty acid composition and vitamin E content of Payoya goats according to grazing level in summer on Mediterranean shrublands

Dietary intake of certain unsaturated fatty acids (FA), in particular conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3 FA (n-3 FA), and fat-soluble antioxidants (e.g. α-tocopherol) has been linked to potential health benefits. Nevertheless, there is little information about how Mediterranean shrublands affect the fat composition and fat-soluble antioxidants of milk of dairy goats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect during the summer of different grazing levels on Mediterranean scrublands on milk production, milk FA profile and vitamin E content from Payoya goats. Eight farms were selected and data were collected monthly from June to October of 2010. Indicators for feeding management and productivity were obtained. The Percentage of the milking goat's net energy requirements obtained from grazing (NERG) was calculated. Farms were segregated in two groups according to the grazing level: high (HG, n=3) and medium grazing (MG, n=5). Whole milk was collected monthly from bulk tanks of the farms and analyzed for chemical composition, FA profile, α-tocopherol content and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). NERG differed between treatment groups and months (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). No differences between groups were observed for the most studied chemical parameters. The percentages of C16:1 (P<0.01), C18:1 n-9 trans (P<0.05), C18:1 n-9 cis (P<0.05) and MUFA (P<0.01) were significantly higher and the total SFA significantly lower (P<0.01) in milk from MG farms compared with HG farms. In contrast, percentages of the nutritionally desirable FA (α-linolenic acid, C22:5 n-3, total n-3 PUFA) were significantly higher, while levels of total n-6 PUFA and n6:n3 ratio were significantly lower in milk from HG group. In addition, the percentages of NERG were correlated positively with the contents of several n-3 FA and negatively with the n-6 FA and n-6:n-3 ratio. CLA cis-9, trans-11 and CLA trans-10, cis-12 were not affected by grazing level. The short and long-chain FA showed significant variations during the period of study. HG farms showed significant higher α-tocopherol content in September (P=0.030) and October (P=0.025). The TAC levels did not significantly vary according to the grazing level and the month. In conclusions, the high grazing farms showed significantly higher levels of n-3 FA and α-tocopherol compared with the medium grazing farms, which are widely recognized as having beneficial effects on human health.

Dairy goat health management and milk production on organic and conventional system in Brazil

Dairy goat health management and milk production on organic and conventional system in Brazil

Effects of increasing supplementation levels of rice bran on milk production and fatty acid composition of milk in Saanen dairy goats

In this study, the effects of four dietary supplementation levels of rice bran (RB) on milk yield and composition were examined in Saanen dairy goats. Four goats (initial bodyweight, 55.0 ± 7.1 kg) and four 21-day periods were used in a 4 × 4 Latin-square design. The diets contained 0, 5, 10, and 20% DM of RB, but were otherwise formulated to be 10.7 MJ metabolisable energy/kg and 18.8% crude protein/kg DM. Goats consumed the greatest amount of DM feed concentrate when fed the 5% RB diet (P &lt; 0.01); however, DM forage intake was not significantly different between diets. Total DM intake of the 5% RB diet was significantly higher than that of the control diet (P &lt; 0.05). Milk yield was the lowest from goats fed the 20% RB (P &lt; 0.01). The protein concentration of milk was significantly lower in goats fed the control and 5% RB diets than in those fed the 10 and 20% RB diets (P &lt; 0.01). However, milk protein production was not significantly different between diets. The concentration of fat in milk increased as the supplementation level of RB increased, although fat production did not differ between diets. The addition of RB increased the concentration of long-chain fatty acids (C16 and C18) in goat milk. No significant difference was found in milk lactose concentration between diets. Overall, the results indicate that RB supplements of up to 10% have no adverse effects on DM intake and milk production in dairy goats.

Milk radioactivity in Serbia from Cernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. to Fukushima accident in 2011.

Radionucleides, which are commonly released into the atmosphere after accidents on nuclear plants, by atmospheric precipitation fall onto the earth, are deposited in the soil, an consequently contaminate the environment, getting into the food chain. Considering that milk represents a kind of food that is consumed by all people, especially children, with the aim to protect the population after Cernobil accident, from then to today, constant long-term monitoring of antropogenic radionucleide (137Cs) presence in milk samples has been carried out, at almost comlete teritory of Serbia. Beside that, immediately after the nuclear accidents in Fukushima power plants, during march and april 2011. laboratory for radiation hygiene at the Faculty of veterinary medicine in Belgrade, carried out a special monitoring of radioactivity (40K , 131I 137Cs) in dairy cow, sheep and goat milk, at 30 localities in Serbia. The obtained results showed that the activity of 137Cs, as a consequence of Chernobyl accident, in milk at the teritory of Serbia was below limit detection. Despite a large distance between Japan and Serbia, traces of 131I and 137Cs were detected in sheep and goat milk samples in april 2011., but considering their low activity, they do not represent a radiation risk for population in Serbia.

Produção e qualidade do leite de cabras de torneios leiteiros

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção diária, a qualidade microbiológica e físico-químicas do leite das cabras participantes de Torneios Leiteiros no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Foram analisadas 111 amostras de leite de 106 cabras (39 Saanen, 6 Toggenburg e 61 mestiças) agrupadas em categorias pela ordem de parto (primíparas e pluríparas) e estágio de lactação [inicial (0 a 30 dias), pico (30 a 45 dias) e pós-pico (mais de 45 dias)], utilizando o delineamento inteiramente casualisado. As cabras pluríparas apresentaram maiores médias de produção no início (4,41 kg/dia) e no pico (5,42 kg/dia) de lactação. Entre raças não houve diferença para produção media (4,62 kg/dia), ponto de congelamento (-0,488º C), pH (6,64), densidade (1,030 g/L), gordura (3,60%), proteína (2,90%), lactose (4,89%), extrato seco desengordurado (8,41%) e extrato seco total (12,06%). As análises microbiológicas revelaram a presença de mesófilos e coliformes fecais, sem diferença entre as ordens de parto ou entre raças. Cabras pluríparas apresentaram maiores produções de leite, mas não diferiram das primíparas quanto à composição, características físicas e microbiota do leite. As amostras de leite dos três genótipos (Saanen, Toggenburg e mestiças) analisados mostraram características físico-químicas, microbiológicas e de produção semelhantes.

Excretion pattern of aflatoxin M1 in milk of goats fed a single dose of aflatoxin B1

The feedstuffs used in dairy animals must be able to give consumers confidence about the wholesomeness of milk with regard to aflatoxin contamination. The aim of this study was to determine the excretion patterns of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in the milk of dairy goats fed a single dose of pure aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which can occasionally occur if feeds are infected by hot-spot growth of molds that produce aflatoxins. Five dairy goats in midlactation were administered 0.8mg of AFB1 orally. Individual milk samples were collected for 84h after AFB1 dosage. Aflatoxin M1 was found in milk in the highest concentration. In all goats, AFM1 was not detected in milk before AFB1 administration, but was detected in the first milking following AFB1 administration. The excretion pattern of AFM1 concentration in milk was very similar in all goats even if the values of the concentration differed between animals. The peak values for AFM1 concentration in milk was observed in milk collected during the milking at 3 and 6h. After the peak, the AFM1 in milk disappeared with a trend that fitted well a monoexponential decreasing function, and the toxin was not detected after 84h. Only about 0.17% of the amount of AFB1 administered was detected as AFM1 in milk, and about 50% of this was excreted in the first liter of milk yielded after AFB1 intake. Correct procedures to prevent growth of molds, and consequent AFB1 contamination, on the feedstuffs for lactating goats represent the key to providing consumers a guarantee that milk is not contaminated by AFM1.

Coxiella burnetii in bulk tank milk samples from dairy goat and dairy sheep farms in The Netherlands in 2008

In 2007, a human Q fever epidemic started, mainly in the south eastern part of The Netherlands with a suspected indirect relation to dairy goats, and, to a lesser degree,...

Analysis of factors affecting dairy goat farming in Keiyo North and Keiyo South Districts of Kenya

Dairy goat milk production is undertaken in traditional extensive production systems with limited resources and harsh climatic conditions. Less attention has been given to goat milk and related products to minimize poverty food insecurity. The main objective of this study was to analyze the factors of production for dairy goat farming. It was hypothesized that farmers’ factor inputs do not significantly impact on the output of the dairy goat farm enterprise. The study was carried out in Keiyo District of Kenya using a sample of 100 farmers. Multistage,Purposive and Simple random techniques were used. Cobb-Douglas production model,marginal value product and marginal factor cost were used for computations. The findings of the study revealed that the factors of production analyzed had a significant impact to the total output produced. It was established that land under dairy goat, cost of disease and pest were significant. Policy recommendations towards adequate land under dairy goats and improved management practices aimed at cheaper and effectively utilized inputs may be a priority for the dairy goat industry. Key words: Goat farming, dairy goat milk, production, factors.

Use of high moisture corn silage replacing dry corn on intake, apparent digestibility, production and composition of milk of dairy goats

Twenty primiparous and multiparous Alpine breed goats at approximately 80 days of lactation were used in this experiment. The animals were housed individually in metal cages and distributed according to milk production in five 4 × 4 Latin squares. The experimental diets used in the experiment presented concentrate:forage ratio of 65:35. The treatments were characterized by increasing levels of 0, 33, 67 and 100% of high moisture corn silage (HMCS) replacing corn dry grain (CDG). Average intake of DM (1.62 kg/day, 3.90 % BW), CP (0.22 kg/day), NFC (0.76 kg/day) and TDN (1.29 kg/day) were not influenced by levels of HMCS. However, intake of NDF (0.53 kg/day) was significant for the different level of HMCS. Daily milk production and production of milk correct at 3.5% of fat, feed efficiency (MP/DMI), fat percentage, protein, lactose, total solids and milk urea nitrogen, with means of 1.86; 1.69; 1.11; 2.96; 2.85; 4.36; 10.96 and 17.1, respectively, were not influenced by the levels of HMCS. Percentage of non fat solids (8.00%) was affected by replacing levels of HMCS. The use of high moisture corn silage in the diet does not change milk production and it can be applied in total or partial substitution to dry corn grain in the feeding of milk goats.

Coxiella burnetii DNA in goat milk after vaccination with Coxevac ®

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, a species of bacteria that is distributed globally. A large Q fever epidemic is currently spreading throughout the Netherlands with more than 3500 human cases notified from 2007 to 2009. Governmental measures to prevent further spread of the disease imposed in December 2009 included vaccination of all dairy goats and sheep and, in parallel, bulk tank milk testing to identify contaminated goat and sheep farms. When bulk tank milk was found to contain C. burnetii DNA, pregnant ruminants were culled. An important, but unsolved issue in this policy was whether vaccine-derived C. burnetii DNA is excreted in milk after vaccination. Using real time PCR and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping techniques, we show here that within hours and up to 9 days after vaccination with Coxevac ®, vaccine-derived C. burnetii DNA can be detected in the milk of dairy goats. This is the first report describing DNAlactia of vaccine-derived DNA after vaccination with a completely inactivated vaccine. This finding had implications for the Dutch policy to combat the Q fever epidemic. A 2-week interval was introduced between vaccination and bulk tank milk testing to identify infected farms.

Short communication: Fluoroquinolone susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from caprine clinical mastitis in southeast Spain

The antibiotic susceptibility of 32 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the mastitic milk of dairy goats was evaluated. The antibiotics tested were 3 fluoroquinolones that have been developed especially for use in veterinary medicine: danofloxacin, marbofloxacin, and orbifloxacin. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests were performed according to the microdilution broth method. The MIC90 (concentration at which 90% inhibition is achieved) values obtained were 0.5, 1, and 1mg/L for danofloxacin, marbofloxacin, and orbifloxacin, respectively. Danofloxacin was the most active fluoroquinolone tested against Staph. aureus strains isolated from milk; however, specific testing is required before using these drugs as therapy for the control of clinical mammary infections in goats.

The combined effects of milking frequency and feeding level on dairy goat welfare and milk emission characteristics in late lactation

This study investigated the combined effects of once-daily milking and feeding level ( ad libitum or adjusted) on goat welfare and milk emission characteristics in late lactation. Forty dairy goats housed in individual pens were managed under twice-daily milking and fed ad libitum during a pre-experimental period (2 weeks). The experiment was then divided into two successive periods: a 1-week period of milking frequency reduction and a 3-week period of feed adjustment. During the first period, half the goats were managed under once-daily milking. During the second period, half the goats of each type of milking treatment was fed ad libitum, whereas the other half received a quantity of feed adjusted weekly to milk production. The following measurements were taken for all goats: milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), somatic cell count (SCC), plasma cortisol concentrations before morning milking, milk flow parameters [latency (i.e., the time from teat cup attachment to first measurement of the milk with a jar), the maximum milk flow rate (MAXFR) and the time taken to reach this maximum (TMAX)] and goat behaviour at morning milking (number of goats ruminating, back hunching, foot moving or kicking at milking). In addition, the time–budget (time spent drinking, eating, standing, lying or climbing) of 16 goats was measured by video recording. Milk yield was reduced by once-daily milking (18 and 21% in the first and the second period, respectively) but not by feed adjustment. DMI was reduced by once-daily milking (12%) only during the second period or by feed adjustment (28%) during the same period. Both SCC and latency were not modified by once-daily milking nor feed adjustment. MAXFR was increased by once-daily milking but not modified by feed adjustment. TMAX was increased by once-daily milking only during the first period and reduced by feed adjustment during the second one. The time spent eating was reduced by once-daily milking or feed adjustment during the second period, in agreement with the reduction in DMI in this period. There were no effects of milking frequency or feeding level on plasma cortisol concentrations, the behaviour at morning milking or the time spent drinking, standing, lying or climbing. No welfare impairment was demonstrated under our experimental conditions in late lactation dairy goats under a once-daily milking management strategy whatever the feeding level.

Effect of estrus synchronization on dairy goat milk composition.

This study was aimed to observe the effects of progesterone impregnated sponge insertion on milk yield and milk composition in dairy goats. For this reason milk samples were collected before insertion and during the treatment. Sixty four Turkish Saanen goats were used in the research. Animals were milked twice daily. Reduce in milk yield was observed. Fat content of milk decreased, while lactose content, solids-non-fat, density and pH value increased during the sponge application. Protein content was not influenced by the treatment. New experiment under controlled conditions might be planned to characterize the hormonal status of animal and their effects on milk yield and composition.

Cheese yield, casein fractions and major components of milk of Saanen and Anglo-Nubian dairy goats

Avaliaram-se os componentes, as fracoes de caseina e o rendimento na producao de queijo do leite de cabras das racas Saanen e Anglo-Nubiana, principais racas criadas no Uruguai. O estudo foi realizado em uma fazenda com sistema de criacao semi-intensiva. O leite das cabras Anglo-Nubianas apresentou teores mais elevados de gordura (4,65 vs 3,59%), proteina total (3,48 vs 2,84%), caseina total (2,82 vs 2,23%), e maior rendimento na producao de queijos (22,00 vs 15,03kg/100l) que o leite das cabras Saanen. As fracoes de αs1-caseina (6,99 vs 2,37g/l), β-caseina (13,95 vs 12,75g/l) e κ-caseina (4,24 vs 3,64g/l) tambem foram mais elevadas no leite das cabras Anglo-Nubianas, porem no teor de αs2-caseina (3,02 vs 3,60g/l) nao se observaram diferencas. O rendimento na producao de queijos foi significativamente correlacionado com os teores de gordura, proteina, caseina total e com as fracoes de caseina. A αs1-caseina representou a fracao com maior correlacao com os teores de proteina total, caseina, gordura e producao de queijo. Demonstrou-se, neste estudo, que o leite de cabras Anglo-Nubianas e mais indicado para a producao de queijo e o de cabras Saanen para utilizacao como leite fluido.

The effect of dietary inclusion of olive tree leaves and grape marc on the content of conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid in the milk of dairy sheep and goats

Olive tree leaves (OTL) and grape marc (GM) are by-products with high linolenic (LNA) and linoleic (LA) acid content, respectively, which can be used as dietary ingredients to increase the cis-9 trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of milk fat in sheep and goats. An experiment was conducted with 16 Friesian ewes and 16 Alpine goats to study the effect of OTL and GM inclusion in sheep and goat diets on their milk fatty acid profile, with emphasis on cis-9, trans-11 CLA and vaccenic acid (VA). Ewes and the goats were fed the control (C) diets from parturition to the 90 days in milk (DIM) and then both groups were divided into two sub-groups (treatments). The control groups of both species continued to be fed the C diets, whereas the treated groups were gradually switched over a 2-week period (DIM=91-105) from the C diets to that of treatment 1, which contained air-dried OTL. These OTL diets were fed ad libitum for 1 month (DIM=106-135). After that period, the same treated groups, after 2 weeks of gradual adaptation (DIM=136-150), were switched to treatment 2, which contained air-dried GM. The GM diets were fed ad libitum for 1 month (151-180 DIM). Concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and mono-unsaturated fatty acids increased significantly in milk fat of sheep fed OTL v. C. For goats, only the PUFA in milk fat was increased by feeding OTL compared with C. Relative to C, GM increased significantly the concentration of PUFA only in milk fat of sheep. OTL and GM diets increased the cis-9, trans-11 CLA and VA content in milk fat, compared with C, only in sheep. GM caused a sharp increase in 18:0 only in sheep milk fat, while the OTL diet increased significantly the 18:0 in milk fat of goats. GM and OTL diets also had opposite effects on the 18:1/18:0 ratio of sheep milk fat. In conclusion, OTL and GM, when included in sheep diets altered the milk fatty acid profile with a pronounced increase in cis-9, trans-11 CLA and VA contents. The results show that the response of sheep and goats to OTL and GM diets was different, suggesting a species difference that needs further investigation.

Use of a test day model for dairy goat milk yield across lactations in Germany

Breeding value prediction for dairy goats in Germany is still based on herd mate comparison within breeding society. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for milk yield based on a test day model. For the analysis 35,308, 30,551 and 23,640 test day records from lactations 1, 2 and 3 from 5079, 4118 and 3132 animals, respectively, were used. The data between 1987 and 2003 were obtained from six German breeding societies. The multiple trait (lactations 1, 2 and 3) repeatability model (RPT) included the fixed effects of breeding society-breed-herd-year, litter size, lambing season, and days in milk of third-order Legendre polynomials nested within herd-year, and the random effects of animal additive and permanent environment. The three-trait random regression model (RR) also included the random regressions based on second-order Legendre polynomials for animal additive and permanent environmental effects. Heritability estimates in RPT were 0.27 +/- 0.02, 0.20 +/- 0.02 and 0.37 +/- 0.02 for the first, second and third lactation, respectively. The genetic correlation between the first and second lactation was 0.69, between the second and third lactation 0.79, and between the first and third lactation 0.45. Heritability estimates from the RR in the first and second lactations decreased from the beginning to the end of the lactation, with average values of 0.28 and 0.27, respectively. Estimates in the third lactation showed a maximum in the middle of lactation, averaging 0.37. Genetic correlations between the first and second lactation averaged 0.64, between the second and third lactation 0.72, and between the first and third lactation 0.46. Despite the small data set and restricted relationship structure the estimates were reasonable with the exception of estimates from the third lactation, which seemed inflated. RR could be used for genetic evaluation of dairy goats in Germany.

Características químicas e sensoriais do leite de cabras Moxotó alimentadas com silagem de maniçoba

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da utilização de silagem de maniçoba (Manihot glaziovii Muell. Arg.) nas relações volumoso:concentrado 30:70; 40:60; 50:50 e 60:40% sobre a composição do leite, o perfil de ácidos graxos e as características sensoriais do leite de cabras Moxotó. Utilizaram-se oito cabras multíparas com aproximadamente 60 dias pós-parto, pesando em média 44 kg, em um delineamento quadrado latino duplo 4 × 4, com quatro tratamentos, quatro períodos e quatro animais. Cada período teve duração de 15 dias: dez de adaptação dos animais às dietas e cinco de coleta do leite. Não foi observado efeito das dietas na composição química do leite, que apresentou valores médios de proteína (3,79%), gordura (3,97 %), lactose (4,66 %), extrato seco total (13,12%), densidade (1,033) e acidez (19ºD). O fornecimento de silagem de maniçoba influenciou de forma linear crescente as concentrações de ácido mirístico (C14:0), que apresentaram valores de 6,15 a 7,85%, e de forma decrescente os teores de ácido linolênico (C18:3), cujos valores médios foram de 2,13 a 0,76% conforme aumentaram os níveis de silagem na dieta. Os resultados da ADQ (análise descritiva quantitativa) indicam que a utilização de silagem de maniçoba em dieta para cabras não confere mudanças sensoriais perceptíveis no leite. A inclusão de silagem de maniçoba na alimentação de cabras leiteiras em níveis de até 60% da dieta não altera a composição e as características sensoriais do leite.

Milk Iodine Content in Slovakia

The aim of this work was to map actual iodine status and its seasonal differences in raw milk of dairy cows, sheep, and goats in various regions of Slovakia. Iodine concentrations were determined in 457 samples of raw milk from dairy cows, 78 samples of sheep, and 16 samples of goat milk collected in various regions of Slovakia from 2002 to 2007. Among all the 457 samples of bovine milk, iodine content below 50 μg l-1 was recorded in 114 samples (24.94%); 294 samples (64.33%) ranged between 50 and 200 μg l-1; 19 samples (4.16%) from 200 to 500 μg l-1; 17 samples (3.72%) between 500 and 1 000 μg l-1, and 13 samples (2.85%) showed iodine concentrations over 1 000 μg l-1. regional concentrations showed the highest values in the Western, then Middle and Eastern Slovakia, and the lowest values in Northern Slovakia (p &lt; 0.05, p &lt; 0.01). In sheep and goat milk samples, we found iodine concentrations below 80 μg l-1 in 49 sheep (62.8%) and in 6 goats below 60 μg l-1 (37.5%), which are indicative of iodine deficiency. When comparing seasonal differences, sheep and goat milk had higher iodine content during the winter feeding period, however, in dairy cows we recorded the opposite ratio. Except for goat milk (p &lt; 0.01) the seasonal differences were not significant.

Prevalence of Various Microbial Organisms Isolated from Dairy Goat Milk Samples in Central Kenya Highlands

Six- hundred and thirty (630) apparently normal milk samples from dairy goats in Nyeri district (Kenya) were examined over a three-month period to determine the prevalence of bacterial organisms. Bacteria were isolated in 28.7% of milk samples (181/630) either as a single bacterial organism (92.8%) or mixed bacterial organisms (7.2%). The most prevalent bacterial organisms isolated were Staphylococcus spp. (60.3%) followed by Micrococcus spp (17.7%), Acinetobacter spp (5%), Actinomyces spp (5%) and Streptococcus spp (1.1%). No Coliform or yeasts were isolated from any milk samples. The staphylococcus spp were mainly comprised of coagulase negative staphylococcus (64.3%) and coagulase positive staphylococcus (35.7%), these organisms accounted for 37.5% and 22.7% of the total bacterial isolates respectively. The isolation of bacteria in the apparently normal caprine milk, some of which are important in clinical and subclinical mastitis (especially staphylococcus spp) means that particular attention should be given to the management of these diary goat flocks in order to avoid cases of clinical mastitis. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 25 2002: pp. 9-11

Persistency Within and Between Lactations in Morning, Evening and Daily Test Day Milk in Dairy Goats (short communication)

Abstract. Persistence in dairy animals can be used as selection criteria. Peak value in lactation can be used to predict total lactation production if within lactation persistence is high. This will provide information on early lactation and shorten generation interval. Major purpose of this study was to determine persistency within and between lactations of Turkish Saanen goats in morning, evening and daily milk yields. Two different methods were employed. One used ratios of the succeeding test days as dependent variables. The multivariate analyses indicated that effects of parity (P=0.05), year (P &lt; 0.01), lactation length (P=0.05) and parity by year interaction (P &lt; 0.01) were large. The other approach was to use within correlations and measure changes in milk production in different parities by using repeated measures analysis and modeling covariance structure using compound symmetry. The within correlations can be used as indicators of persistency. Effects of parity, test day and days in milk (DIM), DIM2, ln(DIM) and [ln(DIM)]2 on morning and evening values and total daily milk weights were analyzed to characterize the lactation curve. Values of DIM and repeated measure id number of the goats were added to the model within parity. Within lactation correlations were estimated as 0.22 for morning, 0.28 for evening and 0.27 for daily milk yield. Evening milk tests can alone be used to estimate lactation milk yield, instead of the total test day milk yield. Milk yield increased until lactation four, and decreased in lactation five in morning, evening and daily milk yields. There was a sharp increase from first lactation to second (ranged from 22.0 to 26.8%) and second lactation to third (ranged from 20.0 to 22.2%).