Assessment of Test-Day Milk Yield and Milk Composition in Tharparkar Cattle

Abstract:

This study evaluated test-day milk yield and selected milk-quality traits in Tharparkar cattle using an observational dataset covering 91 animals and 237 animal-date recording observations collected between 07 March 2025 and 21 July 2026. The dataset contained four lactation classes (1–4) and records with and without calf suckling. Overall mean test-day milk yield was 5.48 ± 1.63 kg/day (range 2.06–11.61 kg/day). Mean milk fat, protein, SNF and lactose were 4.10%, 3.27%, 8.80% and 4.88%, respectively. One-way ANOVA did not detect a significant difference in mean test-day milk yield among lactation numbers (F=1.12, P=0.343). In contrast, records with calf suckling had higher observed milk yield than records without suckling (5.92 vs 5.19 kg/day); the unadjusted Welch test was significant (P=0.0006). A mixed-effects model accounting for repeated observations within animal also retained a significant positive association between calf-suckling status and recorded milk yield (β=0.90 kg/day, P<0.001). Milk fat showed a weak negative correlation with milk yield (r=-0.174, P=0.0074), whereas protein, SNF and lactose were not significantly correlated with yield. These findings provide a useful baseline for Tharparkar performance monitoring; however, the observational nature, unequal repeated records, and absence of detailed information on feed, days in milk, parity management, and suckling intensity limit causal interpretation.