author(s)
SK George, MK Muhammad Aslam, MT Dipu and K Lalu

abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate the variations in morning and evening milk production and composition (fat, solids not fat and total solids) of crossbred cows in an organised instructional dairy farm. The cows are cross breeds having the mixed germplasm of native breeds with exotic breeds such as Holstein Friesian, Jersey and Brown Swiss. The animals of the farm are fed concentrates twice daily and with adlibitum fodder while housed inside the shed. Generally they are left out for grazing in pasture for 7 hrs in a day from 6.30 h to 13.30 h. Forty-five animals contributed to the total milk production of the farm during the study period for one month during which the animals were milked at 5h in the morning and 15h in the evening. The milk production of the herd was higher (P<0.05) during the morning (170.27±5.5) compared to evening (109.67±7.66). The percentage of fat and total solids were higher (P<0.05) in the evening milk, however the content of solids not fat were similar (P>0.05) in morning and evening milk. The study concludes that the milk yeild is higher during morning compared to evening when milking intervals were 14 and 10 hours, respectively and the evening milk is superior to morning milk with regard to the content of fat and total solids.