Estimation of the Milk Production of Ewe during the Suckling Period

D. NEDELCHEV and E. RAICHEVA

Institute of Animal Science, Department of Sheep Breeding, BG-2232 Kostinbrod, Bulgaria

Abstract

NEDELCHEV, D. and E. RAICHEVA, 2000. Estimation of the milk production of ewe during the suckling period. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 6: 89-92

Aim of our research is estimation of the milk production of ewe during the suckling period. The experiment included 30 ewe and theirs lambs – high milk crosses of the East-Friesian, Awassi breed and the Semi-merino with high milk production. All animals are divided into two groups according to the suckling length. The first group (I) is with suckling length approximate 60 days, and the second group (II) – 90 days. All lambs are weaning approaching 20-22 kg of weight never the less theirs age. The milk yield is recorded during the suckling period (3 recordings). The intensity of the growth of lambs is determined. Data are analyzed by standard variance-statistical methods. The prediction of the yield milk during suckling period has been done by regression procedure. The efficiency of the regression equations is established by the value of R² and RSD. There are not differences between groups in average daily milking about the whole suckling period, and for the second and third recording. The estimation of the milk production of ewe during of suckling period by the intensity of growth of their lambs at the genetic heterogeneous population is not reasonable. With significant lower average daily gain are lambs with longer suckling period which is due to genetic factor. The obtained values of R², r and RSD determine the average daily milk yield on second recording as a better predictor for milk yield during the suckling period from those of the third recording. The obtained results show that the use of daily milking according to suckling length improves precise of prediction of milk yield during suckling period.

Key words: milk production, ewe, prediction, suckling period