Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors Affecting Yield and Milk Composition in Goats Samson Taiwo Idowu * and Olajumoke Olufunke Adewumi Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Agriculture P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria * Corresponding author: Samson Taiwo Idowu, Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Agriculture P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria, Tel: +2348135655346; E-mail: samson_mike2000@yahoo.com Received date: 26 February, 2017; Accepted date: 29 April, 2017; Published date: 09 May, 2017 Copyright: © 2017 Idowu ST, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract There is a growing awareness about the use of goat milk as source of protein for man. However, the production level is not enough to cater for the increasing population of the country. Therefore, it is important to look into how to improve the milk production capacity of Nigerian goat breed. This discussion attempts to explore the influence of genetic and non-genetic factors on milk yield and milk composition in goats. Different breeds possess different milking potentials; this is possibly because their genomes are different. Nutrition is a vital component in any attempt to improve milk production in goats, correct estimation of feed requirements is important in the utilization of feed supplements. The ability of a goat to draw upon body reserves to meet the energy requirement during lactation is important in sustaining high level of milk production. Milk production generally peaks as parity increases, thereafter declining slowly and udder size also have a strong and significant effect on milk yield. In order to increase goat milk production, goat farmers need to be focused on the nutrition and other management practices as it affects their herds. Keywords: Nutrition; Parity; Age; Lactation Introduction Goats are among the smallest domesticated ruminants and have served mankind longer than cattle or sheep [1]. Goats in Nigeria are kept mainly for meat productions; the milk is not substantially consumed [2]. Goat rearing for milk production has not attracted attention of policy makers, science managers and researchers in Nigeria since goat production has largely been in the hands of resource-poor farmers who are politically and economically marginalized. However, there is a growing awareness of the importance of goats as source of milk for man [3,4]. Goat milk is of interest because it is nutritious, healthy and a functional food [5]. Also, goat milk has been recommended for patients that sufer allergies from cow milk or other food sources [6]. Goat milk contains protein, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, electrolytes, enzymes and fatty acids that can be easily assimilated by the body [7]. Goats have been reported to be a more efcient milk producer than cattle, sheep and bufaloes based on live weight [3]. According to [8], goats produce more milk compared to cows and other ruminants, because of better feed utilization efciency, higher lactation persistency, mammary tissue comprising of greater proportion of the body weight and a more pronounced milk ejection refex. Terefore, there is a need to look into the milk production potentials of goats as it relates to yield. Milk yield refers to the estimated quantity of milk that can be produced by an animal [9]. Factors that afect milk yield are classifed under two broad categories: genetic and non-genetic or environmental factors [10]. Genetic factors afecting yield and milk composition in goats Genetic factors cause variations between individual animals within and between breeds. Te property of non-homogeneity of milk yield characteristics within and between breed is the basis for the improvement of milk productivity in goats by selection of high yielding does [11,12]. Breed of dairy goats has an efect on milk yield. It has been documented by many authors that temperate breeds produce more milk than tropical breeds [13,14]. Tropical breeds have low milk yield due to their low genetic potential and prevailing environmental conditions like stress caused by harsh weather and diseases. Level of milk production depends on breed and there is variation in milk yield among diferent breeds and within the breed [15]. Several researchers have also investigated milk yield traits in diferent breeds of goat and have reported on the efects of breed on milk production. Zahraddeen et al. [16] in a study on Red Sokoto, Sahel and WAD goat in Nigeria, reported that milk production signifcantly varied in diferent breeds of goat and attributed it to the diference in genetic potentials of the animals. Indigenous goat breeds such as the West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto have much richer milk composition but lower yields than the exotic breeds such as the Swiss breeds [17]. However, some authors reported that breed diferences did not cause signifcant diferences in milk production between Iraqi local goats and their crosses with Damascus and Saanen breeds [18]; and between WAD and Red Sokoto goats of Nigeria [19,20]. Non-genetic factors afecting yield and milk composition in goats Environmental factors represent a host of factors that are non- genetic and impact on the survival and productivity of an animal. Idowu et al., J Adv Dairy Res 2017, 5:2 DOI: 10.4172/2329-888X.1000175 Review Article Open Access J Adv Dairy Res, an open access journal ISSN:2329-888X Volume 5 • Issue 2 • 1000175 A d v a n c e s i n D a i r y R e s e a r c h ISSN: 2329-888X Advances in Dairy Research