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The influence of lamb genotype on the milk production of Blackface ewes

1975; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 84; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s002185960005245x

1469-5146

Jason N. Peart, J. M. Doney, A. J. Macdonald,

Reproductive Physiology in Livestock

SUMMARY The milk intakes of single-born Texel x Blackface and of pure-bred Blackface lambs suckling Blackface ewes was measured using a lamb-suckling technique. The shapes of the lactation curves were similar but the mean milk intake of the Texel x Blackface lambs was substantially greater than that of the pure-bred lambs at all points on the lactation curve. The Texel x Blackface lambs attained a mean maximum daily milk intake of 2418 g and the pure-breds 2075 g; mean total milk intakes during an 84-day period were 157 and 128 kg, respectively. Mean birth weights were 5·08 and 4·98 kg and the subsequent mean daily live-weight gains were 364 and 344 g, respectively, for the Texel x Blackface and pure-bred lambs. It is concluded that lamb genotype had a substantial and significant influence on the milk production of the ewes.