An assessment of the variation in milk yield of ewes determined by the lamb-suckling technique

1968 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Robinson ◽  
W. H. Foster ◽  
T. J. Forbes

SUMMARYEwo milk yield data obtained by the lamb suckling technique from nutritional experiments were analysed statistically to obtain estimates of the several components of variation. Diurnal variation was studied. The fitting of a sinusoidal curve removed a significant amount of variation.There was a highly significant correlation between successive milk yields obtained at 4 h intervals. Number of lambs suckled and body weight of ewe at parturition had a significant effect on total daily milk yield.The variation within ewes after the removal of diurnal variation and between ewes after the removal of the effects of number of lambs suckled and body weight at parturition were computed. These sources of variation were combined in a general equation which enabled the prediction of the standard errors associated with daily milk production for a given sampling technique. The practical application of the predicted standard errors is discussed.

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 42552
Author(s):  
Fatima Kouri ◽  
Salima Charallah ◽  
Amina Kouri ◽  
Zaina Amirat ◽  
Farida Khammar

 This research aims to assess the performances of lactating Bedouin goat under arid conditions, focusing on the relationship of milk yield with body and udder morphology and growth traits. Fourteen goats and their kids were followed during early lactation (90 days post-partum). Mean daily milk yield was 0.56 kg. Milk fat, proteins, lactose, solids non-fat and minerals were respectively 34.9, 38.9, 48.8, 107 and 6.7 g L-1. Mean kids’ birth weight, adjusted body weight at 90 days of age and average daily gain were respectively 2 kg, 6.6 kg and 51.4 g day-1. Daily milk yield was correlated with goats’ body weight, withers height, rump height, udder width and udder circumference but not with linear udder score and growth performances. These results provide important data about the milk production of Bedouin goat emphasizing its correlation with body and udder morphological traits which can help to elaborate a specific breeding program for this breed. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 2937-2943
Author(s):  
Maximillian Manzi ◽  
Lotta Rydhmer ◽  
Martin Ntawubizi ◽  
Claire D’Andre Hirwa ◽  
Callixte Karege ◽  
...  

Abstract This study assessed daily milk yield (DMY), 100-day (MY100), and 305-day (MY305) milk yield, and lactation length (LL) in purebred Ankole cattle and Ankole crossbreds, and the influence of environmental factors on these traits. Milk yield data were obtained for 865 cows and 1234 lactations and analyzed using a mixed linear model. The overall least squares mean of DMY, MY100, and MY305 across breed groups was 2.7 L (N = 1234, SD = 1.7), 262 L (N = 959, SD = 176), and 759 L (N = 448, SD = 439), respectively, while the average lactation length was 256 days (N = 960, SD = 122). All factors included (breed group, season and year of calving, and parity) were significant for yield traits, except season of calving for MY305. First-parity cows had the lowest milk production, and fourth-parity cows the highest. For all traits, pure Ankole cows had the lowest milk yield. Among the crossbreds, there was no significant difference between Ankole × Friesian, Ankole-Jersey mother × Sahiwal sire, and Ankole-Sahiwal mother × Jersey sire, or between Ankole × Sahiwal and Ankole-Sahiwal mother × Sahiwal sire. It was concluded that Ankole crosses with Friesian or Jersey can be beneficial, even under a management system of limited nutrition as in Rwanda.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
S Ahmed ◽  
MRH Rakib ◽  
M Yesmin ◽  
M Ershaduzamman

The study was conducted to know the effect of different levels of pre and post-natal nutrition on the performances of ewes and their lambs until 1 year of age and the profitable slaughter age of lambs under semi intensive system. Twenty eight (28) native Bengal ewes at 7 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned to four groups (T0, T1, T2, T3) and supplemented with a concentrate mixture at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0% of their body weight respectively. Ewes were allowed to graze 8 hours daily. Creep mixture (20 g/lamb/day) was provided to lambs from 2 weeks age with an increment of 10 g/lamb/week. After weaning, 20 growing male lambs were selected and reared 01 year of age with concentrate mixture at 1.5% of their body weight and 8 hours grazing irrespective of treatment groups. Parameters like, ewe’s litter size, daily milk yield, post-partum heat and lamb’s birth weight, weaning weight, live weight at 06, 09 and 12 months were recorded. The data were analyzed in an ANOVA with CRD by using SPSS v. 20. The mean differences were tested by DMRT at a probability level of P<0.05. After weaning, the lamb growths were analyzed considering age as fixed factor. Regression correlations among different parameters with different ages were also performed. Significantly higher daily milk yield (P<0.01), weaning weight (P<0.05) and daily weight gain of lamb until weaning (P<0.05) were observed in T2 group. Besides, lambs weight at 06, 09, and 12 months differ significantly (P<0.01) along with corresponding daily weight gain (P<0.05). Lambs daily weight gain did not differ significantly from weaning to 09 months of age but significantly reduced (P<0.05) from 09 to 12months age. Finally, it may be concluded that a concentrate diet containing 20% CP during late pregnancy to lactation should be supplied to obtain maximum performances of ewes and their lambs. Besides, native Bengal lamb would be slaughtered between 06 to 09 months of age to get maximum return. Bang. J. Livs. Res. Vol. 26 (1&2), 2019: P. 43-50


1969 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. COWIE

SUMMARY The daily milk yields and the concentrations of fat, protein and lactose in the milk were studied throughout lactation in New Zealand White (NZW) and Dutch rabbits. The highest daily milk yields, 270 g. in the NZW and 140 g. in the Dutch rabbits, occurred at the end of the third week of lactation; on a body weight basis the yields were similar being 61·0 and 62·3 g. milk/kg. body weight for the NZW and Dutch rabbits respectively. Over a 6-week period the total milk yields were 6940 g. for the NZW and 3820 g. for the Dutch rabbits. In both breeds considerable changes occurred in the composition of the milk after the third week of lactation. During the first 3 weeks the concentrations of fat, protein and lactose were approximately 15–17, 11 and 1·8–2·0 g./100 ml. milk respectively, but during the fourth to the sixth week the values for fat and protein increased to 25–30 and 18–20 g./100 ml. respectively, while lactose declined to 0·5 g./100 ml. or less. Sheep prolactin (25 i.u. injected s.c. twice daily for 2 days) in late lactation was galactopoietic, augmenting both the daily milk yield and the concentration of lactose in the milk. From days 9 to 31 of lactation the NZW litters gained 0·45 g. body weight/g. of milk consumed, the Dutch litters gained 0·38 g./g. of milk. This difference in weight increment was highly significant (P < 0·001) and was apparently due not to a higher calorie content of the milk of the NZW does but to a greater efficiency of milk utilization by the NZW litters.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zinat Mahal ◽  
MAMY Khandoker ◽  
MN Haque

Accumulated five years data on 197 kids of 15 Black Bengal bucks in the nucleus breeding flock of Black Bengal goats were analyzed for the study of production traits. The traits considered were birth weight, weight at every 3- month interval up to 12-month, semen characteristics and milk yield. Semen parameters were evaluated from 450 ejaculates of 15 Black Bengal bucks collected twice a week by artificial vagina method and daily milk yield of Black Bengal goats were estimated from the analysis of 57 lactation records of 30 does. The significance of fixed effects sex of kid, parity, litter size, season, age, body weight and scrotal circumferance were analyzed using least-squares analyses of variance of the general linear model (GLM) procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 1998). Least-squares means for body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12-month of age were 1.3, 4.8, 8.0, 11.1 and 14.0 kg, respectively. Body weights at 3, 6, 9 and 12-month of age except at birth were affected by the sex of kids (p<0.05). Type of birth and parity of dam had the significant affect (p<0.05) on birth weight, whereas season of birth had significant (p<0.05) effect on the body weight. The least-squares means of semen volume (ml/ejaculate), sperm concentration (109/ml), mass motility (%), live spermatozoa (%) and normal spermatozoa (%) were 0.5, 2.4, 80.0, 86.5 and 89.3, respectively. Age of bucks had significant (p<0.01) affect on semen volume, sperm concentration. Body weight had a significant (p<0.05) effect on semen volume only. Least-squares mean of daily milk yield was 379.9 lit.. Milk yields was significantly (p<0.01) affected by litter size and season of kidding. It is suggested that nongenetic factors should be adopted as a technique for improving the productive traits. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v11i1.18217 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 11(1): 79-86, 2013


1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Doney ◽  
J. N. Peart ◽  
W. F. Smith ◽  
F. Louda

SummaryThree techniques, lamb-suckling and test-weighing, hand- or machine-milking following administration of oxytocin, and measurements of body-water turnover, used for the estimation of milk yield in suckled sheep are discussed in relation to sources of error and comparability of estimates.Results are presented from an experiment in which the lamb-suckling and the oxytocin techniques were compared. The mean daily milk production of Scottish Blackface and East Friesland × Scottish Blackface ewes suckling single and twin lambs was measured by both methods at weekly intervals for 6 weeks. All ewes were well nourished to ensure full expression of milking capacity. Additional information from a similar experiment on Merino ewes is also presented.The oxytocin method gave higher estimates of mean daily milk yield in the first week of lactation, especially in the groups of ewes rearing single lambs and in the Blackface breed. By the second week in most groups and the third week in all groups there were no significant differences between estimates made by the two methods and the relative values of the estimates were not affected by level of milk production, number of lambs suckled or genotype of ewe and lamb.


1994 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Tegegne ◽  
A. Geleto ◽  
P.O. Osuji ◽  
T. Kassa ◽  
R. Franceschini

SummaryThis study was conducted in the central highlands of Ethiopia during 1990–92 to examine the effects of diet and partial suckling on lactation and reproductive performance of Boran (Bos indicus) cows. Primiparous Boran cows were allocated to dietary supplementation or no supplementation with either milking or partial suckling based on body weight at calving. All cows received grass hay ad libitum and the supplemented groups were provided with additional concentrate feed which supplied 222 g/kg DM crude protein and 10 MJ/kg DM energy. Calves were weaned at 8 weeks of age. Mean (±S.E.) dam calving and calf birth weights were 314±11·4 and 25±0·6 kg. Body weights at first postpartum oestrus and at conception were not affected by suckling. Supplemented cows however, were heavier at first oestrus (P = 0·06) and at conception (P < 0·01) than non-supplemented cows. Lactation length was longer (P < 0·01) and mean daily milk yield higher (P < 0·001) in suckled than in milked cows. Diet, however, did not influence either lactation length or daily milk yield. In suckled cows, mean daily milk yield declined sharply after weaning (week 9) and was lower by 38 and 43% of week 8 production in the supplemented and non-supplemented groups, respectively. The overall mean lactation yield was 212·4±64·6 litres; with a significant (P < 0·05) diet × suckling interaction effect. Concentrations of milk fat, total protein and total solids were not affected by either diet or suckling treatment. The postpartum anoestrus interval was longer (P < 0·01) in non-supplemented than in supplemented cows, but did not differ between suckled and milked cows. The percentage of cows cycling by 150 days postpartum was higher (P < 0·05) in supplemented than in nonsupplemented and in milked than in suckled (P > 0·05) cows. By this interval, a higher (P < 0·05) percentage of supplemented-milked (90%) cows cycled than in the other three treatment groups (48·5%). Pregnancy from the first insemination ranged from 45·5 to 63·6% in the four treatment groups. It was concluded that although partial suckling extended the postpartum anoestrus interval, lactation length and milk yield were improved. The negative effects of partial suckling on postpartum reproduction could be overcome with the appropriate dietary supplementation. The economic tradeoff between dietary supplementation, milk yield and reproduction has to be determined in partially suckled cows.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 291
Author(s):  
K.M. Marshall ◽  
R.D. Shanks ◽  
W.L. Hurley ◽  
S.M. Donovan ◽  
M.B. Wheeler

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of over-expression of a mammary-specific transgene, bovine α-lactalbumin, and increased suckling stimulation on milk yield in sows and resultant piglet weight gain. Lactational response to increased suckling stimulation was determined by fostering piglets of either the same age (D1) or seven days older (D7) than sow day of lactation to Yorkshire sows either non-transgenic (C) or transgenic for bovine α-lactalbumin (bALA). Twenty first-parity Yorkshire sows were allocated between four treatments dependent on the combination of sow genotype and age of litter fostered (bALA-D1, bALA-D7, C-D1, C-D7). Litters were standardized to 10 piglets each and fostered to subject sows at approximately 36 hours postpartum. All D1 and D7 litters were not significantly different in mean piglet weight within age groups. Sow milk yield (kg) was determined by the weigh-suckle-weigh method on Days 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 postpartum. Piglet weight gain (g) was determined by calculating the difference between individual piglet weights on Days 3 and 18 of sow lactation. Least-squares means and standard errors for overall daily milk yield of bALA sows with D1 and D7 foster piglets were 7.1±0.4 and 9.1±0.4kg, respectively, reflecting a significantly greater milk yield (28% increase, P&lt;0.05) in response to increased suckling stimulation. Least-squares means and standard errors for overall daily milk yield of control sows with D1 and D7 foster piglets were 6.7±0.4 and 7.0±0.4kg, respectively, reflecting a non-significant change in milk yield (4% increase, P&gt;0.05) in response to increased suckling stimulation. The bALA-D7 treatment resulted in a 31% increase in mean daily milk yield as compared to the combined mean daily milk yield of the three remaining treatments. Cumulative weight gain of piglets suckling bALA sows resulted in least-squares means and standard errors of 3411±156g for D1 and 3458±202g for D7, and piglets suckling control sows had cumulative weight gains of 2944±143g for D1 and 3016±175g for D7. Overall effect of treatment in the model was significant (P&lt;0.05) through Day 12 of sow lactation. Piglets that suckled bALA sows, regardless of age of litter when fostered, grew significantly faster than piglets that suckled control sows for the entire 15 days of lactation studied (P&lt;0.05), resulting in a cumulative average of 455 grams of additional gain per piglet. First-parity bALA sows were more able to respond to increased suckling stimulation by a resultant increase in milk yield than control sows under equivalent conditions. Similarly, piglets suckling bALA sows gained weight faster than piglets suckling control sows. Over-expression of the bovine α-lactalbumin transgene in sows enhances mammary response to regulators of milk yield, such as level of suckling stimulation. (Supported by the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research Sentinel Grant).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document