The Influence of Lactation Number and Season on Yield, Chemical and Microbiological Status of Sheep Milk

Abstract

In the investigation utilized 800 head of Pirot improved sheep during two lactation numbers (I and II) and two lactation seasons: I -winter, and II -summer. Investigated the influence of some factors on milk yield, fat content, protein content, pH value, SCC (somatic cell count) and CFU (total number of microorganismis). Control of milk yield was carried out by the AC method (ICAR, 2005). It was ascertained a significant impact (P < 0.05 and (P < 0.01) of lactation number on traits of milk, except for content of fat, somatic cell counts and total bacterial count. The amount of milk in the second year was higher by 5.25 kg compared to the milk yield of sheep in the first year. Milk yield was higher in the second season for 6.75 kg, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The fat content was higher in the first season for 0.29%, which was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). Milk protein content was higher in first lactation for 0.30%, and difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01); pH value in milk was significantly higher in the second lactation (P < 0.01). The number of lactation had no significant effect on somatic cells count in milk (P > 0.05). Total number of microorganisms (CFU) also did not depend on the number of lactation (P > 0.05). Sheep in the second season had a higher milk yield for 6.75 kg (P < 0.05) and higher total number of microorganisms (P < 0.01). Somatic cells in milk was also higher during the season II (P < 0.01).