Effects of body conformation and udder morphology on milk yield of zebu cows in North region of Cameroon

Vet World Vol.10 August-2017 Article-11

Research Article

Veterinary World, 10(8): 901-905

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2017.901-905

Kilekoung Jean-Pierre Mingoas¹, Julius Awah-Ndukum², Houinga Dakyang³, and Pagnah Andre Zoli³

1. Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, PO Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
2. Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, PO Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
3. Department of Biotechnology of Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, PO Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

Background and Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of udder morphological characteristics on milk yield in zebu cows of Cameroon.

Materials and Methods: The diameter and height of the udder, length and diameter of the teat, and the milk yield were measured in 29 Djafun (Red Mbororo) and 19 Aku (White Fulani) cows in Lougguere zootechnical station in the North region of Cameroon.

Results: Overall, strong positive correlation (rp=0.60) between the diameter (240.21±28.58 mm) and height (131.12±23.64 mm) of udders (p<0.001) and between length (39.51±6.44 mm) and diameter (19.85±3.08 mm) of teats (rp=0.78) were found in the zebu cows. Udder morphologic characteristics varied significantly (p<0.005) according to breed, lactation stage and parity, and height at whiters. There was significant (p<0.001) correlations between udder diameter (rp=0.541) and height (rp=0.549) with milk yield.

Conclusion: This study ascertained udder morphological characteristics values in local zebu cows, and showed that udder size is strong and positively correlated to milk yield. The findings are useful in genetic improvement programs of zebu cows. Keywords: Cameroon, lactation stage, milk yield, teat diameter, parity, zebu cow.

Keywords: Cameroon, lactation stage, milk yield, teat diameter, parity, zebu cow.

How to cite this article: Mingoas KJ, Awah-Ndukum J, Dakyang H, Zoli PA (2017) Effects of body conformation and udder morphology on milk yield of zebu cows in North region of Cameroon, Veterinary World, 10(8): 901-905.

Received: 07-03-2017 Accepted: 06-07-2017 Published online: 11-08-2017

Corresponding author: Kilekoung Jean-Pierre Mingoas E-mail: jmingoas@yahoo.fr

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.901-905

Copyright: Mingoas, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.