The level of udder emptying and milk flow stability in Tsigai, Improved Valachian, and Lacaune ewes during machine milking

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the stability of milk flow curves and the volume of residual milk in relation to milk flow curves in breeds Tsigai, Improved Valachian, and Lacaune (n = 16 heads per breed) milked twice daily. Milk flow type stability was evaluated at morning milking (stabile milkings) during three successive days in the middle of two months (June, July). After the following fourth morning milking (OT milkings) in both months, oxytocin was injected intravenously at a dose of 2 UI. Afterwards the ewes were milked again in order to remove residual milk. The milk flow curves were classified into four types: 1 peak (1P), 2 peaks (2P), plateau I (maximal milk flow over 0.4 l/min) (PLI), plateau II (maximal milk flow less than 0.4 l/min) (PLII). If all milk flow curves of one animal were of the same type within one month and within both months, respectively, the animal was characterized as the ewe with the stabile type of milk flow. Frequency of occurrence of single milk flow types (1P : 2P : PLI : PLII) during stabile milkings was 42 : 49 : 9 : 0% in June and 51 : 37.5 : 11.5 : 0% in July. 33 ewes (i.e. 69%) had the stabile type of milk flow within both months. But, more than 51% of them had 1P type of milk flow. Milk production varied according to milk flow curve during OT milkings (0.427 ± 0.015, 0.498 ± 0.024, and 0.655 ± 0.035 l for 1P, 2P, and PLI, respectively). The highest percentage of residual milk from total milk yield (RM/TMY) was observed in ewes with 1P (20.29 ± 0.85%), followed by ewes with PLI (12.31 ± 1.99%) and 2P (9.72 ± 1.36%) (P < 0.0001). Lacaune ewes had the lowest amount of residual milk (0.054 ± 0.006 l) and RM/TMY (9.86 ± 1.16%) compared to breeds Tsigai (0.088 ± 0.008 l; 16.47 ± 1.44%) and Improved Valachian (0.069 ± 0.010 l; 15.99 ± 1.78%) indicating their better udder emptying.  

Impact of simplified methods of monthly and twice monthly milk recording on genetic parameter estimates and genetic evaluation in dairy ewes under a low input production system

“…Test day milk production obtained in SiciloSarde breed raised under a low input production system (one lambing season a year) were lower than those reported in other studies (Othmane et al, 2002a;Gutierrez et al, 2007;Mačuhová et al, 2012) on dairy breeds with more intensive production systems (3 lambing times in two years) and higher milk production level. As a whole, estimated and observed values of test day milk yield were similar ranging from 526 to 586 ml.…”

The influence of lamb rearing system on ewe milk and lamb growth traits in dairy sheep

“…Dairy sheep is a traditional branch of livestock in countries of Central and East Europe including Slovakia. In recent years, possibilities to improve milking ability traits that influence profitability of dairy sheep sector were investigated (Mačuhová et al, 2012;Antonič et al, 2013;Krupová et al, 2014). Purebred mating and breeding values prediction (Oravcová et al, 2005;2015) contributed to the increase in milk production of local breeds (Tsigai, Improved Valachian).…”

Food safety and food quality. Proceedings of the scientific papers

“…Nádoj sa s narastajúcim štádiom laktácie znižoval (z 895 mL -1. meranie na 413 mL -5. meranie). Podobne ako aj v iných štúdiách a iných plemenách bol zistený pokles produkcie mlieka v neskorších štádiách laktácie (Casu et al, 2008;Kuchtik et al, 2009;Tančin et al, 2011;Mačuhová et al, 2012). Najnižšie percentuálne zastúpenie tuku, bolo zistené pri 1. meraní (5,54 %).…”