A study of somatic cell and their relation to some milk traits and udder measurements in Black and Meriz goats

Volume 16 , Issue 1 , October 2014 , Pages 197-202

Authors

¹ Animal production department, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Duhok University

A total of 246 observation of test day milk yield (TDMY), fat percent and somatic

cell count (SCC) of 25 lactating does (2-6 years old) from each of Black and Meriz goat

were used in this study. Milk yield was recorded at monthly intervals, commencing from

the 30th day after kidding till the does were dried off. Also, the external udder

measurements of does were performed. Results revealed that a non-significant negative

correlations were found between SCC and TDMY in both Meriz and Black goats except

that at 3rd collection in Black goat was significant (r=-0.421, P<0.05). Fat content was

positively correlated with SCC (P>0.05) in both breeds. In Meriz goat, SCC was

negatively correlated with udder circumference (r=-0.550, P<0.01) and positively

correlated with each of teat diameter (r=0.559, P<0.01) and teat length (r=0.665,

P<0.01). All the correlation coefficients between SCC and udder measurements in Black

goat were not significant.

Statistics