EFFECTS OF MONTH OF KIDDING, PARITY AND LITTER SIZE ON MILK-YIELD OF ALPINE GOATS IN EGYPT

Lactation records (550) of 110 French Alpine does in Egypt were studied for effects of changing the original environment on milk performance including, month of kidding, parity and litter size. Changing the original environment of does affected negatively the level of milk yield. Monthly milk yield and total lactation milk (M(total)) were affected by month of kidding (P < 0.05). Does kidding in winter produced much more milk than those kidding in spring. Parity affected significantly (P < 0.001) monthly milk yield in M(total). Litter size affected significantly (P < 0.05) the first two months of lactation. Percentages of singles, twins and triplets were 39.82, 58.36 and 1.82%, respectively. Significant (P < 0.05) correlations were found among M(total), litter size and parity. Correlation coefficient between M(total) and live weight (after the first parturition) was 0.37, whereas the regression coefficient between the two variables was 1.77 kg milk/kg body weight. Repeatability of milk yield of does was 0.36.