Genotype influencing yield and milk composition in different dairy production systems

Abstract

The milk yield and milk composition of dairy animals are influenced by a large number of factors. Generally, these factors are based on genetic and non-genetic  differences between dairy animals. While the genetic potential of an animal is fixed at conception, non genetic factors such as nutrition, management, milking frequency, rearing methods, stage of lactation, etc. determine whether  genetic  potential is attained. Therefore, the maximum marketable milk yield with different fat and protein content is desirable to producers to increase farm profitability and can be affected by choice of appropriate genotype. The present discussion explores the  consequences of  choice of genotype  in dairy production enterprises for the milk yield and composition. The discussion points to the fact that genotype affect either yield or milk composition during the entire lactation. However, across genotypes fat and protein yields  are affected by both the quantity of milk produced and fat or protein percentages in the milk.