Small Ruminant Research 75 (2008) 252–255 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Short communication Effects of the frequency of milking and lactation stage on milk fractions and milk composition in Tinerfe˜ na dairy goats J. Capote a , N. Castro b , G. Caja c , G. Fern´ andez a , H. Briggs b , A. Arg¨ uello b,∗ a Canarian Agronomic Science Institute, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain b Department of Animal Science, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University, Arucas 35416, Spain c Grup de Recerca en Remugants, Departament de Ci` encia Animal I dels Aliments, Universitat Aut` onoma de Barcelona 08193, Spain Received 8 October 2007; received in revised form 20 November 2007; accepted 22 November 2007 Available online 11 January 2008 Abstract Machine milk (MM), machine stripping milk (MSM), residual milk (RM), and milk protein and fat content were recorded during the second lactation in 49 Tinerfe˜ na goats milked once (X1) and twice (X2) a day. MM, MSM and RM percentages were 67.7% and 62.4%, 20.2% and 30.2%, 12.1% and 7.4% in X1 and X2, respectively. Milking frequency statistically affected MSM, RM and fat content, but increasing milking frequency from once to twice a day did not improve milkability nor did it significantly affect milk yields. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Milking frequency; Milk fractions; Goat 1. Introduction Goat milk production is important in developed coun- tries; goat milk is transformed into high quality cheese considered as a delicacy (Rubino et al., 2004). Goat milk is obtained by machine milking and milking parameters have not yet been completely understood in goat produc- tion, although the frequency of milking is an important parameter in goat management and some breeds are milked twice a day (Saanen, Alpina) whereas others are milked once a day (Majorera, Murciano-Granadina, Tinerfe˜ na), being results uneven. Milk production was ∗ Corresponding author. Fac. Veterinaria, Transmonta˜ na s/n, 35416 Arucas, Spain. Tel.: +34 928451094; fax: +34 928451142. E-mail address: aarguello@dpat.ulpgc.es (A. Arg¨ uello). almost 26% higher in Saanen goats milked twice a day (Wilde and Knight, 1990); furthermore, a reduc- tion of 18% in milk yield was reported by Salama et al. (2003) when goats were milked just once a day, although some breeds show lower reductions. Capote et al. (1999) reported increases of only 6.4% and 8.4% in the Tin- erfe˜ na breed milked twice a day during first and second lactation, respectively. Milk fractions indicate the percentage which could be collected between the liner attachment and the com- plete cessation of milk flow without the operator having to manipulate the goats, and the quantity remaining in the udder after milking; therefore the milk could be divided into machine and machine stripping milk frac- tions. Milk fractions have been studied in breeds with high-medium increases in milk production when twice a day milking was used (Salama et al., 2004), and a 0921-4488/$ – see front matter © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2007.11.004