Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T18:24:35.511Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The yield and composition of the milk of Finnish Landrace × Blackface ewes: I. Ewes and lambs maintained indoors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. N. Peart
Affiliation:
The Hill Farming Research Organization, Edinburgh
R. A. Edwards
Affiliation:
The Edinburgh College of Agriculture
Elizabeth Donaldson
Affiliation:
The Edinburgh College of Agriculture

Summary

Twenty-two Finnish Landrace × Blackface ewes suckling either single, twin, triplet or quadruplet lambs were maintained indoors during a 12-week lactation period. Milk production was estimated at weekly intervals by hand milking following oxytocin administration. Milk was collected from each ewe in four similar volumetric portions which were retained in order of withdrawal and analysed for maj or constituents. Weighted volumes of milk from each of the four portions were bulked to give a single sample for analysis. Estimated mean total milk production over a 12-week period from parturition was 134, 205, 212 and 218kg for single-, twin-, triplet- and quadruplet-suckled ewes respectively. Most of the difference in total yield between multiple-suckled groups of ewes occurred during the first 3 weeks of lactation, and the data indicate that the number of lambs born, or the total weight of concepta, influences the initial quantity of milk available to the lambs. Regression analysis showed significant evidence for difference between the linear components of the regression of milk yield, fat, protein, lactose and Gross Energy on the stage of lactation for all suckling groups. The concentration of all constituents other than lactose and ash was higher in colostral milk, but was significantly higher only in respect of fat, protein and Gross Energy. Substantial differences found between suckling groups in respect of fat and protein, content of the milks indicate an influence on these constituents due to the number of lambs suckled. The mean growth rates of the triplet- and quadruplet-suckled groups of lambs were each significantly lower than each of the single- and twin-suckled groups. The food intake of the ewes in relation to shape of lactation curves and consequent lamb growth is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexander, G. & Davies, H. L. (1959). Relationship of milk production to number of lambs born or suckled. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 10, 720–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alexander, R. H. (1969). The establishment of a laboratory procedure for the in vitro determination of digestibility. West of Scotland Agricultural College Research Bulletin, no. 42.Google Scholar
Ashton, W. M., Owen, J. B. & Ingleton, J. W. (1964). A study of the composition of Clun Forest ewe's milk. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 63, 8590.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnicoat, C. R., Logan, A. G. & Grant, A. I. (1949). Milk-secretion studies with New Zealand Romney ewes. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 39, 237–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
British Standard 1741 (1963). Methods for the chemical analyses of liquid milk and cream. British Standards Inst., London.Google Scholar
British Standard 696 Pt. II (1969). Gerber method for the determination of fat in milk and milk products. British Standards Inst., London.Google Scholar
Brouchard, R. & Brissom, G. J. (1969). Changes in protein fractions in ewe's milk throughout lactation. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 49, 143–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coop, I. E. (1962). The energy requirements of sheep for maintenance and gain. I. Pen fed sheep J. agric. Sci., Camb. 58, 179–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coop, I. E. & Drew, K. R. (1963). Maintenance and lactation requirements of grazing sheep. Proc. N.Z. Soc. Anim. Prod. 23, 5363.Google Scholar
Corbett, J. L. (1968). Variation in the yield and composition of milk of grazing Merino ewes. Aust. J. agric. Res. 19, 283–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, W. L. (1932). The determination of chlorides in dairy products and biological material. Analyst 57, 7985.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donald, H. P., Read, J. L. & Russell, W. S. (1968). A comparative trial of crossbred ewes by Finnish Landrace and other sires. Anim. Prod. 10, 413–21.Google Scholar
Fertilizers and Feeding stuffs Reggulations (1968). No. 218 H.M.S.O. London.Google Scholar
Gardner, R. W., Hogue, D. E. & Bensadoun, A. (1964). The effects of energy intake and number of lambs suckled on milk yield, composition and energetic efficiency of lactating ewes. J. Anim. Sci. 23, 935–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hadjipieris, G., Jones, J. G. W., Wimble, R. H. & Holmes, W. (1966). Studies on feed intake and feed utilization by ewes. II. The utilization of feed by ewes. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 66, 341–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jefferies, B. C. (1961). Body condition scoring and its use in management. Tasm. J. Agric. 32, 1921.Google Scholar
Johansson, I. & Claesson, O. (1957). Progress in the Physiology of Farm Animals, 3, 1017 (ed. Hammond, J.). London: Butterworth's Scientific Publications.Google Scholar
McCance, I. (1959). The determination of milk yield in the Merino ewe. Aust. J. agric. Res. 10, 839–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morag, M. (1969). The relationship between the passage of time and the secretion of milk in the ewe. Aust. J. agric. Res. 20, 941–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peart, J. N. (1967). The effects of different levels of nutrition during late pregnancy on the subsequent milk production of Blackface ewes and on the growth of their lambs. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 68, 365–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peart, J. N. (1968a). Lactation studies with Blackface ewes and their lambs. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 70, 8794.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peart, J. N. (1968b). Some effects of live weight and body condition on the milk production of Blackfaoe ewes. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 70, 331–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poulton, S. G. & Ashton, W. M. (1970). A study of the composition of Clun Forest ewe's milk. IV. The proteins of ewe's milk and their variation with stage of lactation. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 75, 245–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rusev, V.Georgiev, I. & Tanev, D. N. (1964). The amount and composition of the various fractions of milk obtained during test milking of ewes. Inst. Oeorgi. Dimitrov Zootech. Pah. 14, 421–31. (Abstracted in A. B. Abstracts 1966, 34, no. 1254.)Google Scholar