Abstract

KREMER, R; GIORDANO, JP; ROSES, L  and  RISTA, L. Production of Milchschaf sheep in a grazing dairy system. Veterinaria (Montev.) [online]. 2015, vol.51, n.199, pp.2-2. ISSN 0376-4362.

Summary An experiment was conducted to evaluate production and milkability of 148 Milchschaf ewes on pastures, mated in march, shorn prepartum, the lambs weanned at 10 kg and thereafter twice a day milking for 100 days. Bodyweight and body condition were determined as well as reproductive performance, milk production an composition, somatic cell count (RCS) and prevalence of clinical mastitis. Milkability was evaluated in 10 ewes, the following fractions were volumetrically measured and sampled: machine milk without stripping (LM), machine milk after stripping (LAM), residual hand milked (LRM), residual after injection of oxytocin (LR). At mating bodyweight was 54.55±6.39 kg, body condition score was 2.59±0.44, both diminished during milking period (P<0.01). Fertility was 94.6%, prolificity 115.0% and lambing percentage was 108.8%. Milk yield adjusted to 100díaswas 64.17±16.06, age of ewe and number of weaned lambs per ewe were significantly related to milk yield (P<0.01). Milk composition was (%): fat 5.43±0.55, protein 4.67±0.37 and lactose 4.39±0.23. Average RCS was 360.000/mL; clinical mastitis prevalence was 13.3%. LM was 52.96% of total milk in the udder, LAM was 17.52%, LRM was 8.72% and LR was 20.8%. It is concluded that reproductive traits and dairy milk yield of Milchschaf on pastures are lower than European results; milkability is similar to dairy breeds.

Keywords : Milchschaf; reproduction; milking; milk composition; mastitis.

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