Milk Production Performance of Kuri Cows under Extensive Breeding Conditions of Lake Chad

This study evaluated the performance of the bovine Kuri breed in its natural environment i of Lake Chad. Eighty-eight (88) females were monitored over three lactations for four years (2009-2012). In all 32,665 daily measurements were carried out. Cows fed on natural pasture had accessed to some byproducts from developed agricultural plots. They were milked by hand in the presence of a calf to stimulate milk ejection before milking. Milk production was recorded by two daily milkings (In the morning and in the evening) twice a month for all lactations. The results showed a greater variation in the daily amount of 1.2 to 13.40 liters of milk produced. The variations observed were due to the suckling calf and hand milking likely to influence the degree of emptying of the udder The average milk production was 5.33 ± 2.12 liters per day, or 5.5 kg and varies by increasing according to the rank of lactation. The average length of lactation was 332.87 ± 77.2 days and falls depending on the rank of lactation. The average milk production per lactation was 1776.66 kg, representing a standard production of 305 days of 1628.70 kg. The rank of lactation had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on milk yield and duration of lactation. The dry season or harvest period had a positive effect and the f rainy season or transhumance period a negative effect on milk production. The study has shown the significant potential of the Kuri cow and proved that non-genetic factors have a significant effect.