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

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 selec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of dairy research 2017-02, Vol.84 (1), p.23-26
Main Authors: Muhatai, Geminguli, Cheng, Long, Rugoho, Innocent, Xiao, Guoliang, Chen, Genyuan, Hodge, Simon, Zhou, Xiaoling
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
China
Dairying - methods
Data collection
Diet - veterinary
Equidae - physiology
Equus asinus
Female
Lactation - physiology
Milk
Milk production
Parity - physiology
Pregnancy
Seasons
Time Factors
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0022-0299
1469-7629
DOI:10.1017/S0022029916000777