Lactation performance of ewes and the growth of lambs, in Awassi sheep, under two different suckling regimes

Abstract

SummaryThe present study was carried out on 39 local Awassi ewes. After parturition, lambs were left to suckle their dams for the first month of age, after which they were separated into two suckling regimes, restricted and continuous.The average milk yield of ewes in the continuous system was 155·7 kg during the lactation period of 167±6·1 days whereas that of the restricted system was 139·8 kg during a lactation period of 183 ± 5·7 days. However, differences were not significant. Significant differences (P < 0·01), in favour of the continuous system, occurred in the amount of milk suckled by lambs in the different suckling systems from the 8th week onwards till weaning. Measured hand milk showed no significant differences between the two regimes.Averages of butter fat percentages were 5·63 and 6·69 in the continuous and restricted systems respectively. The total percentage suckled milk, regardless of suckling regime, was 36·7 ± 1·99; averages were 41·6 ± 0·89 and 31·7 ± 3·52 in the continuous and restricted systems respectively.The averages of commercial milk production from the 9th week after lambing until the end of lactation were 45·9 and 61·7 kg in the continuous and restricted systems respectively (P < 0·01). Averages of butter fat quantities in the commercial milk yield were 3·25 and 5·03 kg in the continuous and restricted systems respectively (P < 0·01).The weights of lambs in the two suckling regimes started to differ significantly from the 14th to the 46th week of age; lambs reared under the continuous system were 4 kg heavier at the yearling age than those of the restricted system.It might be worth considering weaning and selling extra lambs at 3 months of age to make full use of the high growth rate encountered in this period. The breeder could also obtain 11·4 kg more milk from ewes from 9 to 17 weeks after lambing in the restricted system than those in the continuous one. It might be advisable to use the restricted system and wean the lambs at 12 weeks of age; the excess milk obtained will outweigh the extra gain in body weight of 1·52 kg encountered in the continuous system.

The milk yield and milk composition of the Greek indigenous goat (Capra prisca) as influenced by duration of suckling period

“…The overall mean values of the measured milk constituents throughout lactation, irrespective of the treatment group, were similar to those found by Zygoyiannis and Katsaounis (1986). Guirgis et al (1980) found in their study with Awassi sheep that while milk yield of ewes declined with increase in time in lactation, milk fat concentration increased. In general, it has been found that the higher the level of milk production the lower is the production of total solids, especially fat (Flamant and Morand-Fehr, 1982;Zygoyiannis and Katsaounis, 1986).…”

“…Most of this extra milk, 32-7 kg (0-83), was produced between weeks 7 and 12 and, with a milk conversion ratio of 13-6, contributed to a live weight of their kids of 2-41 kg; the remaining 6-8 kg (proportionately 0-17) was the only additional marketable milk. Folman, Volcani and Eyal (1966) and Guirgis, Kassem, Kazzal and Abdallah (1980) working with Awassi sheep on different suckling regimes showed that restriction of suckling during the first 9 or 9 to 17 weeks of lactation released considerable amounts of marketable milk. The reports on the effect of early weaning on milk production in sheep and goats are not consistent and production appears to be associated with the genotype, the nutrition and the management of the animals studied.…”

Efecto del amamantamiento restringido sobre características de crecimiento en ovinos de pelo colombiano

“…Así mismo, los efectos del DA sobre el crecimiento del cordero y la funcionalidad del rumen han sido estudiados (16,17). Por el contrario, la información disponible sobre los posibles efectos del AR en el crecimiento del cordero antes y después del destete es muy limitada (18,19). Así pues, el objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el efecto del amamantamiento restringido (AR) sobre parámetros de crecimiento (peso ajustado (PA) y ganancia de peso diaria (GPD)), nota de condición corporal (CC) y puntaje de FAMACHA ® (FA) durante la lactancia y pos-destete.…”