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Effect of parity, milking time and stage of lactation on milk yield of Jiangyue donkey (Equus asinus) in North West China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2017

Geminguli Muhatai ,
Long Cheng ,
Innocent Rugoho ,
Guoliang Xiao ,
Genyuan Chen ,
Simon Hodge  and
Xiaoling Zhou
Geminguli Muhatai
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang, 843300, PR China
Long Cheng
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Canterbury, New Zealand
Innocent Rugoho
Affiliation:
Agriculture Research and Development Division, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Ellinbank Centre, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia
Guoliang Xiao
Affiliation:
Kashgar Animal Husbandry Station, Kashgar, Xinjiang, 844000, PR China
Genyuan Chen
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang, 843300, PR China
Simon Hodge
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Canterbury, New Zealand
Xiaoling Zhou*
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang, 843300, PR China
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: zxldky@126.com
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Abstract

The study reported in this Research Communication was carried out to examine how parity and milking time affected donkey milk yield under a typical Chinese production system. Eighteen Jiangyue breed donkeys with good health condition, aged between 6 and 9 years, and with parities 3 and 4, were selected. Milk production was measured commencing from the fourth week post-foaling, with a total data collection of 170 d in milk (lactation length). Mean milk yield of the donkeys used in this study was 3·0 kg/donkey/d. Results showed milk yield decreased with days in milk from 3·3 kg/donkey/d at the start of the study, to 2·2 kg/donkey/d by the end of the 170 d. Parity 3 donkeys produced 22% more milk than parity 4 donkeys (3·3 kg/donkey/d vs 2·7 kg/donkey/d). The information provided by this study should aid producers in estimating the expected milk yields from individual donkey, and better predict milk yield over the course of a production cycle.

Keywords

donkeydays in milklactation curvemilking interval
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 84 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 23 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2017 

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Footnotes

† Both the authors contributed equally to this research.

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