Milk Production Performance of Dairy Goat Crosses on Smallholdings in Central Kenya

Abstract

Data was collected to assess milk production performance of the Saanenltoggenburg crosses and the .effect of crossing them with Alpine bucks in Nyeri district. Data on 112 does (89 SaaneniToggenburg crosses and 23 FI Alpine sired crossbreeds) was analysed. The overall means were 108.24 ± 65.51 KGs. The mean lactation yields for the Saanen/Toggenburg crosses and F 1 Alpine sired crossbreds were 65.39 ± 11.92 and 141.60 ± 27.14 KGs respectively. Milk yield was significantly (P<0.05) affected by agricultural area, month of kidding, breed of doe and lactation length. Type of birth, sex of kid, and parity had no significant effect on yield. It was concluded that crossing of the Saanen/Toggenburg crosses with Alpine bucks improved lactation performance.