MILKING TECHNIQUE AND OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING MILK-PRODUCTION POTENTIAL IN DIFFERENT BREEDS OF CAMELS UNDER FARM CONDITIONS

Daily milk production in 4 lactating camels each of Bikaneri and Kachc hhi breed belonging to second and third parities and 3 lactating camel s of Jaisalmeri breed from third parity was studied. The daily milk pr oduction was recorded twice a day at 12-hr interval by 3 different mil king techniques, viz. 2-teat stripping and allowing calf to suckle sim ultaneously, 4-teat stripping, and machine milking. The average daily productions by 2-teat and 4-teat stripping, and machine milking in Bik aneri camels were 4.19+/-0.11, 3.2+/-0.15 and 2.66+/-0.16kg/day respec tively. The corresponding figures in Jaisalmeri were 3.72+/-0.17, 2.17 +/-0.16 and 2.02+/-0.19 kg/day, respectively. The average daily produc tions in Kachchhi camels with 4-teat stripping and machine milking was 3.94+/-0.13 and 3.42+/-0.14 kg respectively. The morning, evening and total daily production per day were higher under 2-teat stripping fol lowed by 4-teat stripping and machine milking. The contribution of bre ed and parity was significant (P<0.01) under all the 3 milking techniq ues. The daily milk production with 2-teat stripping varied from 2.37/-0.27 to 6.73+/-0.27 kg/day, with 4-teat from 0.66+/-0.26 to 5.15+/-0 .25 kg/day and with machine 1.45+/-0.23 to 5.22+/-0.04 kg/day. The dai ly milk production was highest during month 6 of lactation and then it started declining. The month-wise daily average of second parity fema les varied from 1.6+/-0.31 to 4.64+/-0.31 kg/day and for third parity from 2.13+/-0.25 to 5.86+/-0.25 kg respectively. The contribution of p arity on month of lactation was significant (P<0.01). As compared to e vening, the morning milk yield was about 10.0 to 27.0% higher during d ifferent months of lactation. The chemical composition of milk during early and late phases of lactation indicated that pH, fat %, SNF and t otal solids were significantly higher during late phase of lactation. However, the proteins were also higher but not at significance level. Vitamin C was higher at early phase of lactation.