RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UDDER CHARACTERISTICS AND EACH OF REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND MILK PRODUCTION AND MILK COMPOSITION IN ZARAIBI AND DAMASCUS DAIRY GOATS

ABSTRACT
Thirty-two Damascus goats and forty-one Zaraibi goats used to study the relationship between udder measurements and each of reproductive performance and milk yield and composition.
Udder circumference positively (P <0.05) affected milk yield of both Damascus and Zaraibi does. The contents of fat, protein, lactose, solids not fat and total solids in milk decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing udder circumference of Damascus does, while, they increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing udder circumference of Zaraibi does. Meanwhile, weaning weight and growth rate till weaning increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing udder circumference of both Damascus and Zaraibi does.
Udder length, both external and internal, positively (P< 0.05) affected milk yield of both Damascus and Zaraibi does. The contents of fat, protein, lactose, solids not fat and total solids in milk of Damascus does decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing external and internal udder length. However, the contents of fat, protein, lactose, solids not fat and total solids in milk of Zaraibi does increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing external and internal udder length. On the other hand, the weaning weight and growth rate until weaning of Damascus and Zaraibi kids did not significantly affected by the internal and external udder lengths.
Udder condition score also positively (P< 0.05) affected milk yield of both Damascus and Zaraibi does. Moreover, the contents of fat, protein, solids not fat and total solids in milk of Damascus does decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing udder condition score up to 4. However, the contents of fat, protein, lactose, solids not fat and total solids in milk of Zaraibi does decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing udder condition score. Moreover, the weaning weight and growth rate of Zaraibi kids increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing udder condition score.
Teat length also positively (P< 0.05) affected milk yield of Damascus and Zaraibi does. Milk protein of Damascus does, increased significantly (P<0.05), however, the contents of lactose, solids not fat and total solids decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing teat length. In milk of Zaraibi does, the contents of protein, solids not fat and total solids increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing teat length. The weaning weight and growth rate till weaning of Zaraibi kids increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing teat length.