Udder traits were subjectively scored in 36 Slovenian Alpine goats as udder depth (UD), fore (FUA) and rear udder attachment (RUA), medial suspensory ligament (MSL), teat diameter (TD), length (TL) and position (TP), and measured as UDcm, RUAcm, TDcm, TLcm and TPcm. Phenotypic correlations among udder traits were estimated. Standardised regression coefficients were estimated for the effect of days in milk (DIM) on udder traits and daily milk yield (MY) and were tested for slope heterogeneity. Phenotypic correlations between UD and FUA, and UD and RUA were 0.25 and 0.11, respectively. Highly positive correlation was estimated between RUA and RUAcm (0.70), TD and TDcm (0.78), and TL and TLcm (0.85). Moderate correlations were estimated between days in milk and UDcm (−0.39), RUAcm (−0.34), and TDcm (−0.26), suggesting UD, RUA and TD become smaller as lactation progresses. Changes of udder traits over lactation were smaller than changes for daily milk yield. Decrease of TP, RUAcm, UDcm, TDcm, and milk yield throughout lactation was obtained. We found similar trend in changing UDcm and RUAcm with the trend of changing daily milk yield.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3787656